Endangered Species: PONDBERRY SOUTHERN SPICEBUSH SWAMP SPICEBUSH Lindera melissifolia (Laurel Family)
by Dr. Kim D. Coder, Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Swamp spicebush is an aromatic, deciduous shrub less than a meter (3.3 feet) tall which forms dense thickets. Numerous stems have hairy (trichome covered) young twigs and buds. Leaves are drooping, alternate, 6-16cm (2.4-6.3 inches) long, 2-6cm (0.8-2.4 inches) wide, with a dark green upper-surface and a pale green under-surface covered with soft trochomes. Leaf is an elon- gated oval shape with a rounded base and a long tapered, pointed tip. When crushed, leaves smell like sassafras. Flowers in March. Male and female flowers grow on different plants and appear before the leaves. Flowers are small, bright yellow, and grouped in tight clusters. Fruits in June and July. Fruit is bright red, fleshy, elliptical and 10-12 mm (0.4-0.5 inches) long. Fruit contains a hard, one-seeded pit. There are two species similar to swamp spicebush. One is a genus mate, common spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is taller (2-5m (6.5-16.4 feet)) with spreading (not drooping) leaves, tapered (not rounded) leaf bases and a strong benzene odor when leaves are crushed. The other similar species is pond spice (Litsea aestivalis) is taller and has shorter, more oblong, leathery leaves. Swamp spicebush is one of the rarest small shrubs. It is found in shallow sink-hole depressions, along margins of swamps and ponds, and other wet areas of the Coastal Plain. It is found around swampy hardwood sites often in standing water and in soils that never dry.
Publication WSFNR-17-17 April 2017
The University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability
The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. Clearing or forest harvesting can raise water levels and disrupt habitat. Draining or deepening wet areas, and disturbing soil reduce habitat. Figure 1 provides a general regional distribution. This species is considered native in 9 states. It is federally listed as endangered. Figure 2 shows the county distribution in Georgia. This species is found in the upper Coastal Plain in south central and southwest Georgia. Photos are attached showing species.
WS MI SD PA NJ
IOWA OH DE MY NE IN IL WV VA
KY KS MO. NC
TN S C AR OK GA AL MS
TX LA FL
Figure 1: General distribution in the Southeastern US.
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 2 Figure 2: County distribution in Georgia.
DADE CATOOSA FANNIN TOWNS RABUN MURRAY UNION WALKER WHITFIELD GILMER WHITE CHATTOOGA LUMPKIN GORDON STEPHENS PICKENS HABERSHAM
DAWSON FRANKLIN HALL BANKS HART FLOYD CHEROKEE GEORGIA BARTOW
FORSYTH JACKSON MADISON ELBERT POLK BARROW COBB GWINNETT CLARKE OGLETHORPE PAULDING OCONEE HARALSON WALTON DEKALB WILKES LINCOLN DOUGLAS FULTON
CARROLL ROCKDALE MORGAN GREENE NEWTON COLUMBIA
CLAYTON HENRY TALIAFERRO
COWETA WARREN McDUFFIE FAYETTE HEARD JASPER PUTNAM RICHMOND SPALDING BUTTS HANCOCK
GLASCOCK PIKE BALDWIN JEFFERSON BURKE TROUP LAMAR MONROE JONES
MERIWETHER WASHINGTON UPSON
BIBB WILKINSON JENKINS HARRIS TALBOT CRAWFORD JOHNSON SCREVEN TWIGGS EMANUEL MUSCOGEE TAYLOR PEACH
LAURENS HOUSTON CHATTA- BLECKLEY TREUTLEN BULLOCH HOOCHEE MARION MACON CANDLER EFFINGHAM
SCHLEY PULASKI DOOLY DODGE EVANS STEWART WHEELER TOOMBS SUMTER BRYAN CHATHAM WEBSTER WILCOX MONTGOMERY TATTNALL CRISP TELFAIR LIBERTY QUITMAN TERRELL LEE JEFF RANDOLPH BEN HILL DAVIS APPLING TURNER LONG
CLAY IRWIN CALHOUN DOUGHERTY WAYNE WORTH COFFEE BACON McINTOSH TIFT EARLY BAKER PIERCE BERRIEN ATKINSON MITCHELL GLYNN MILLER COLQUITT BRANTLEY COOK WARE
LANIER DECATUR CLINCH GRADY THOMAS LOWNDES CHARLTON CAMDEN
SEMINOLE BROOKS
ECHOLS
Background map from Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 3 Habitat appearance. (photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 4 Plants in bloom in early Spring.
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 5 Male and female flowers on different plants in Early Spring.
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder) Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 6 Leaves front and back. (late Summer)
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 7 Twigs, leaves, and fruit. (late Summer)
(photo credits Dr. Kim D. Coder)
Dr. Kim D. Coder, Warnell School University of Georgia 8