Berchemia Necker. Supplejack.
A genus of about 30 species, lianas, shrubs, and trees, of tropical to warm temperate Asia and se. North America. Berchemia scandens is the only New World species, and sister (as "Berchemia clade I") to the rest of the (Asian) genus (clades II, III, and IV). Huang et al. (2021) removed the two African species sometimes included in Berchemia to Phyllogeiton.
ID notes: The young stems are shining and red, orange, or green; older stems can reach at least 18 cm in diameter, with bark medium gray and smooth (though often marred by sap wells drilled by Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers). The smooth bark and neatly pinnately-veined leaves are distinctive.
Ref: Brizicky (1964a); Huang et al. (2021); Medan & Schirarend In Kubitzki et al. (2004); Nesom (2016c) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2016). Show full citations.
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© Gary P. Fleming
© Aidan Campos source
© Aidan Campos source
© Alan Cressler: berchemia scandens, montezuma bluffs natural area, macon county, georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source