Cartrema americanum (Linnaeus) Nesom. Common name: Wild Olive, Devilwood. Phenology: Apr-May; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Maritime forests and (in FL, GA, SC, and extreme s. NC) hammocks and other dry, sandy forests well inland, and reported southwards for wet habitats as well. Distribution: Se. VA south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. LA (Florida parishes); also south through Mexico (18 states).

ID notes: Cartema americanum is a conspicuous element of sandy Coastal Plain forests of the South Atlantoic, east Gulf Coastal Plain, and Florida peninsula, readily recognizable by the flattened twigs characteristic of the family, and the opposite (or typically, actually subopposite), glossy, oblanceolate to obovate, evergreen leaves.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: The very hard, tough, and "unsplittable" wood is the inspiration for the common name "Devilwood".

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl6, Zhang, Zhang, & Endress (2003); = Amarolea americana (L.) Small — S; = Cartrema americana (L.) G.L.Nesom — K4, Mex, Nesom (2012d), Weakley et al (2011), orthographic variant; = Osmanthus americana (L.) Benth. ex Hook. f. — GW2, S13, orthographic variant; = Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. — F, G, Meso4.1, RAB, Va, WH3; = Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. var. americanus — C, Hardin (1974); Olea americana Linnaeus. Basionym: Olea americana L. 1767

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (name change)
• Great Plains: FAC (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6