Halesia tetraptera J. Ellis. Common Silverbell, Mountain Silverbell. Phen: Mar-May; Aug-Sep. Hab: Moist slopes, coves, creek-banks, bottomlands. Dist: W. VA, s. WV, and s. IL, south to FL and s. MS (and cultivated elsewhere); disjunct in AR and OK.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Two varieties or species have sometimes been recognized (see synonymy): "monticola," a large tree, restricted to the Southern Appalachians (and especially the Great Smoky Mountains), the corolla (18-) 20-30 mm long, the style included, the anthers well inside the mouth of the corolla tube, and "tetraptera," a smaller tree more widely distributed, the corolla (12-) 15-20 mm long, the style slightly exserted, the anthers just within the mouth of the corolla tube. Most studies have judged them too intergradient to be practically delimited.

Synonymy: = C, Va; = Halesia carolina L. – F, G, RAB, W, WV; = n/a – Tat; < Halesia carolina L. – FNA8, Il, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, Tn, Fritsch & Lucas (2000); > Halesia carolina L. – S; > Halesia monticola (Rehder) Sarg. – S; > Halesia tetraptera J.Ellis var. monticola (Rehder) Reveal & Seldin – K1, Reveal & Seldin (1976); > Halesia tetraptera J.Ellis var. tetraptera – K1, Reveal & Seldin (1976)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 2