Epigaea repens Linnaeus. Common name: Trailing Arbutus, Mayflower, Ground Laurel. Phenology: Late Feb-early May; Apr-Jun. Habitat: In a wide variety of acidic forests, xeric to mesic, sandy, rocky, and loamy, including longleaf pine sandhills. Distribution: NL (Newfoundland) and QC west to MB, south to FL Panhandle, MS, and MN.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Other Comments: At maturity, the fruits split along the sutures, exposing tiny brown seeds embedded in "sticky, white, placental tissue" which is "distinctly sweet to the taste;" ants are strongly attracted to the placental tissue, and in carrying it away disperse the seeds (Clay 1983).
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Can, Fl5, FNA8, G, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Luteyn et al (1996); > Epigaea repens L. var. glabrifolia Fernald — F; > Epigaea repens L. var. repens — F. Basionym: Epigaea repens L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Epigaea repens - FNA8
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Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
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© Alan Cressler: epigaea repens, chattahoochee national forest, rabun county, georgia 2 by Alan Cressler source
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Prostrate, shrubby perennial found in a variety of moist to dry habitats on acidic soils, including heath balds and exposed banks in rocky or sandy woodlands.
Stems: Stems creeping, reddish-brown, lightly woody and densely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, oval, 2-3 in. long, leathery-evergreen with rough texture, covered in rust-colored hairs when new.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in short clusters from axils of terminal leaves, often concealed beneath leaves; white to pink; to 1/2 in. long; trumpet-shaped with 5 spreading corolla lobes; fragrant.
Fruits: Fruit a pea-sized berry-like capsule that changes from green to red, then purple; contains hundreds of tiny brown seeds embedded in a sticky white tissue that is attractive to ants.
Comments:
Height: 4-6 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Prostrate, shrubby perennial found in a variety of moist to dry habitats on acidic soils, including heath balds and exposed banks in rocky or sandy woodlands.
stems: Stems creeping, reddish-brown, lightly woody and densely hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate, short-petiolate, oval, 2-3 in. long, leathery-evergreen with rough texture, covered in rust-colored hairs when new.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in short clusters from axils of terminal leaves, often concealed beneath leaves; white to pink; to 1/2 in. long; trumpet-shaped with 5 spreading corolla lobes; fragrant.
fruits: Fruit a pea-sized berry-like capsule that changes from green to red, then purple; contains hundreds of tiny brown seeds embedded in a sticky white tissue that is attractive to ants.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
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