Fothergilla major (Sims) Loddiges. Large Witch-alder. Phen: Apr-May; Jul-Oct. Hab: Dry ridgetop forests of middle elevation ridges in the mountains, especially along the Blue Ridge Escarpment, summits and upper slopes of Piedmont monadnocks, north-facing bluffs and along small streams in the lower Piedmont. Dist: C. NC west to ne. TN, south to nc. GA and nc. AL; disjunct in AR.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Most cultivated Fothergilla (notably the cultivar 'Mt. Airy') is the pentaploid hybrid of Fothergilla gardenii × major (= F. ×intermedia Ranney & Fantz) (Ranney et al. 2007).

Other Comments: A hexaploid species 2n=6x=72.

Synonymy: = Ar, FNA3, K1, K3, K4, RAB, S, Tn, W, Haynes et al (2020), Weaver (1969); > Fothergilla monticola Ashe

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