Ceanothus americanus L.

Locations ofCeanothus americanus L. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Rhamnaceae
Botanical Name
Ceanothus americanus L.
Common Name
New Jersey Tea, Redroot
Synonym(s)
Ceanothus americanus L.
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Ceanothus americanus L.
Comments
A narrow-leaved variant - var. intermedius (Pursh) Torrey & A. Gray - is sometimes recognized, but appears to be of questionable taxonomic and phytogeographic significance. This putative var. was collected by Fernald from sandy woodlands and pine barrens of southeastern Virginia; according to Flora of the Southeastern U.S. it is characteristic of such habitats, as well as sandy soils of the Piedmont, further south. However, a canvas of online herbarium material shows that specimens with the leaf morphology of var. intermedius have been collected from various substrates across the state, and that differences of leaf morphology among Virginia specimens is clinal, rather than sharp. Pending further scrutiny of this issue, we are not formally recocgnizing subspecific segregates in Ceanothus americanus.
Habitat
Dry open forests, woodlands, barrens, and clearings throughout, except on the Eastern Shore; often in shallow, rocky, or sandy soils. Frequent in the mountains and Piedmont, less frequent but widespread in the Coastal Plain.
Native Status
Native

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