U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service February 2017 Conserving South Carolina’s At-Risk Species: www.fws.gov/charleston www.fws.gov/southeast/candidateconservation Species facing threats to their survival Godfrey’s privet waxy surface. All other native privets Status ( godfreyi) flower later than Godfrey's privet, which NatureServe’s Rounded Global Status is blooms from mid-January to mid- G2 - Imperiled. Long term trends for the February so surveys are best conducted species indicate a decline of at least 30%, during flowering and fruiting, which is and likely more than 50%. The U.S. Fish February–May. Leaves may be recog- and Wildlife Service was petitioned to list nized throughout the summer. the species in April 2010 and published a substantial 90-day finding in September Range 2011 indicating listing may be warranted. Godfrey’s privet has a limited range, ex- tending from southeastern South Carolina, Threats down through coastal Georgia and into Godfrey’s privet is threatened by compe- northern Florida. Approximately 35 oc- tition with exotic such as Chinese Godfrey’s privet (male flowers)/Photo credit: currences are believed extant, most in privet. Nandina, and Thorny at some USFWS Florida. The plants appear to be locally sites. Unprotected sites may be impacted abundant at a few sites, but sparse at oth- by land clearing activities and residential Description ers; number of individuals can be difficult development. In some cases excavation Godfrey’s privet is a or to estimate due to the species' clonal na- and/or destruction of shell mounds may small 2.5-5 m tall, with leaning or ture. In South Carolina, the is have an impact on the species. arching main stems. Its leaves are oppo- known from Beaufort, Charleston, and site, 5-8 cm long, simple, oval to egg- Colleton Counties. Management/Protection Needs shaped, toothed above the middle, and Protect coastal forests from clearing and uniformly hairy on under surface. Leaf development. Protect shell mounds from stalks and twigs are hairy. Godfrey’s priv- digging and disturbance. Eradicate exotic et is dioecious, meaning that female and pest plants. Direct trails and recreation male flowers are on different plants. The activity away from plants. Continue to female-flowering plants of Godfrey’s priv- survey for the species and monitor known et often grow in patches somewhat sepa- populations. rated from patches of male-flowering plants. Both male and female flowers are References clustered into inflorescences that appear Georgia Department of Natural Resources to be a single flower with numerous, - Rare Plant Species Profiles: http:// bushy, golden stamens or pistils and 4-6 georgiawildlife.com/speciesinfo/plants small, pale yellow "petals" that are actual- ly bracts; the individual flowers them- Range map for Forestiera godfreyi; Biota of NatureServe. 2015. NatureServe Explor- selves have no petals. Male inflorescences North America, 2014. er: An online encyclopedia of life [web have 12-15 flowers per cluster, each flow- application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, er with 3-5 showy stamens and 4 -5 tiny Habitat Arlington, Virginia. Available http:// sepals; four small and two tiny bracts sub- The plant is specific to coastal maritime explorer.natureserve.org. tend the inflorescence. Female inflores- forests over shell mounds on barrier is- cences have 5-10 flowers each flower with lands. Swamp privet () Contact a pistil and 2-4 non-functional stamens, occurs in wetlands. Upland privet U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and 6 small yellowish-green bracts. Flow- (), occurring in habitats South Carolina Field Office er clusters are held close to the stem. similar to Godfrey’s privet, does not flow- 843/727-4707 Fruits are dark blue drupes with a smooth, er until mid–late summer. [email protected]