Pachysandra procumbens Michaux. Common name: Mountain Pachysandra, Allegheny-spurge. Phenology: Feb-May; Jul-Aug. Habitat: Moist rich forests, mainly over calcareous or mafic rocks. Distribution: C. KY south to w. NC, nw. SC, w. GA, Panhandle FL (Jackson County only), AL, MS, and e. LA (on loess in the Tunica Hills). Its distribution (and, for that matter, that of the genus as a whole) appears to be relictual and to reflect a poor ability to disperse itself and colonize new territory. Channell & Wood (1987) refer to Pachysandra procumbens as a "nonaggressive if not ‘senile’ species with a very low evolutionary potential". The only locations for this species in NC are in Polk County, NC, which has other notable disjunctions of species which normally occur west of the Blue Ridge (Veratrum woodii, Smilax lasioneura).
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA10, G, K4, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tn, W, WH3, Robbins (1968); = n/a — Tat. Basionym: Pachysandra procumbens Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Pachysandra procumbens - FNA10
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Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Alan Cressler: Pachysandra procumbens, Pickens County, South Carolina 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Pachysandra procumbens, Pickens County, South Carolina 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Rob Gardner | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: Pachysandra procumbens, Pickens County, South Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Grant Morrow Parkins | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rhizomatous-spreading perennial forming dense carpets in moist, rich woods.
Stems: Stems short, fleshy, purplish-red, crowded with leaves.
Leaves: Leaves alternate (sometimes appearing whorled), oval to round, to 3 in. long, toothed above middle, semi-evergreen, blue-green mottled with white, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a spike (2-4 in. long) resembling a bottle brush at the top of a separate flowering stem; white (male/staminate) tubular flowers are at the top and dominating, while coral pink (female/pistillate) tubular flowers are at the bottom.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 6-10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rhizomatous-spreading perennial forming dense carpets in moist, rich woods.
stems: Stems short, fleshy, purplish-red, crowded with leaves.
leaves: Leaves alternate (sometimes appearing whorled), oval to round, to 3 in. long, toothed above middle, semi-evergreen, blue-green mottled with white, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a spike (2-4 in. long) resembling a bottle brush at the top of a separate flowering stem; white (male/staminate) tubular flowers are at the top and dominating, while coral pink (female/pistillate) tubular flowers are at the bottom.
fruits:
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germination code:
native range: southeastern United States
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