Ceratiola ericoides

Michaux

Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 222. 1803,.

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Ceratiola falcatula Gandoger Empetrum aciculare Bertoloni
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 491. Mentioned on page 490.

Plants 0.5–2.5 m; bark gray (interior surfaces reddish), exfoliating on older branches. Leaves 4(6) per node; petiole appressed to ascending, tan, 0.5–1 mm; blade yellow-green to green, linear to acicular, 5–15 × 0.7–1 mm, base acute to rounded, apex acute, surfaces minutely glandular to glandular-hairy, with prominent, longitudinal groove abaxially. Inflorescences sessile; bracteoles 2(–4), sessile, ovate, 0.8–1 mm, margins erose. Flowers sessile, tan to reddish brown; sepals persistent, imbricate, ovate to orbiculate, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm, margins fimbrillate; petals persistent, imbricate, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm, margins fimbrillate; stamens reddish brown; filaments 2–3 mm; anthers 1 mm; pistil reddish purple, 1.5–2.5 mm; ovary ovoid, 0.7–1 mm; style 0.7–1 mm, ± equaling stigma; stigma 0.5–1 mm. Drupes red (tan to yellow), 1.5–2 mm diam. Seeds (pyrenes) reddish brown, 1–1.7 mm. 2n = 26.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun(-Nov).
Habitat: Deep, xeric, sandy soils of oak scrub, sand pine scrub, longleaf pine sand hills, fluvial sand ridges, and maritime dune fields
Elevation: 0-100 m

Distribution

V8 958-distribution-map.gif

Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., S.C.

Discussion

Ceratiola ericoides occurs in sites with low fire frequency, yet its seed germination is stimulated by fire once seed production begins at 10–15 years of age (A. F. Johnson 1982b). Leaves are strongly aromatic.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Ceratiola ericoides"
Wayne J. Elisens +
Michaux +
Ala. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Miss. +  and S.C. +
0-100 m +
Deep, xeric, sandy soils of oak scrub, sand pine scrub, longleaf pine sand hills, fluvial sand ridges, and maritime dune fields +
Flowering Mar–Jun(-Nov). +
Fl. Bor.-Amer. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Ceratiola falcatula +  and Empetrum aciculare +
Ceratiola ericoides +
Ceratiola +
species +