Cyrilla racemiflora Linnaeus. Common name: Titi, Leatherwood, Black Titi, He-huckleberry. Phenology: May-Jul; Sep-Oct. Habitat: Pocosins, swamps, lake and pine flatwood pond margins, streambanks, pine flatwoods. Distribution: E. VA (Accomack County) south to sc. peninsular FL, west to e. TX; material from Mexico, Central America, n. South America, and the West Indies is not conspecific.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Thomas (1960) interpreted this species very broadly, as also distributed in the West Indies, Belize, Mexico, and n. South America (notably the tepuis and Gran Sabana of s. Venezuela), but I interpret plants in these areas as belonging to other species. The leaves are quite variable in shape and size; the venation and glossy smoothness, however, are distinctive once learned.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, G, RAB, S, S13, Tx, Va, Kurz & Godfrey (1962), Small (1924b); = n/a — Tat; < Cyrilla racemiflora L. — Fl5, FNA8, GW2, K4, NS, POWO, WH3, Thomas (1960); > Cyrilla racemiflora L. var. racemiflora — F; > Cyrilla racemiflora L. var. subglobosa Fernald — F; Cyrilla racemiflora L. Basionym: Cyrilla racemiflora L. 1767
Links to other floras: < Cyrilla racemiflora - FNA8
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
- Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Jay Horn source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Cyrilla racemiflora, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Wakulla County, Florida 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Collectors SOS | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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Height: 6-12 ft.
plant sale text: Titi is a lesser-known southeastern native shrub that is gaining recognition for its wonderful attributes. Small bell-shaped white flowers on drooping spikes have a delightful honey-like fragrance. This shrub typically has an interesting architectural shape, with branches spiraling in a sculptural silhouette. Its foliage is glossy dark green, often tinged with red in the fall. Depending upon the harshness of the winter, some foliage of the titi often persists until spring.
bloom table text: This large, distinctive shrub grows to about twenty feet in swampy areas of the Coastal Plain. Considered a semi-evergreen, it does drop its leaves in the northern end of its range or during a hard winter; while farther south the leaves create a fantastic display of oranges and scarlets. Another attractive aspect of Ti-ti is its habit of wide-spreading branches which have smooth brown bark and a twisted shape. Slender white flower racemes appear in late June and July and are three to six inches long, giving it a graceful and delicate appearance.
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native range: southeastern U.S. to n. South America
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