Pieris phillyreifolia (Hooker) A.P. de Candolle. Subgenus: Pieris. Section: Phillyreoides. Vine-wicky, Climbing Fetterbush. Phen: Late Feb-Apr. Hab: Acidic swamp forests. Dist: E. SC south to c. peninsular FL west to s. AL.

ID notes:This southeastern species has the remarkable habit of often growing as a creeping vine under the bark of Taxodium ascendens, Chamaecyparis, or (less typically) other tree species, the branches exserted through the bark, sometimes ascending into the upper canopy with the main stem never visible except at the very base of the tree; it also grows as a low shrub. Godfrey (1969) documents the occurrence of this species in our area. See Godfrey & Wooten (1981) and Godfrey (1989) for excellent descriptions and illustrations of this curious "shrub-vine".

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy: = Fl5, FNA8, GW2, K1, K3, K4, WH3, Judd (1982a), Li et al (2009), Luteyn et al (1996); = Ampelothamnus phillyreifolius (Hook.) Small – S; = n/a – RAB

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW

Heliophily: 4