Lindera benzoin (Linnaeus) Blume. Northern Spicebush. Phen: Mar-Apr; Aug-Sep. Hab: Rich alluvial forests, mesic forests on slopes with circumneutral soils, bottomlands, swamps. Dist: ME, s. ON, and MI, south to Panhandle FL and e. TX; disjunct in Edwards Plateau of c. TX.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Some floristic treatments recognize two varieties based on whether the leaves and young twigs are pubescent (var. pubescens) or not (var. benzoin) but the varieties so recognized overlap broadly in distribution; it seems best to regard this as mere variation within the species.

Other Comments: Where occurring on upland slopes, L. benzoin is an excellent indicator of base-rich soils, generally derived from calcareous sedimentary rocks or mafic metamorphic or igneous rocks.

Synonymy: = Ar, Fl2, FNA3, GrPl, GW2, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Wofford (1983); = Benzoin aestivale (L.) Nees – S; = Benzoin benzoin (L.) Coult.; > Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume var. benzoin – C, F, G, Il, K1; > Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume var. pubescens (E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.) Rehder – C, F, G, Il, K1, NcTx, Tx

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