Difference between revisions of "Ceanothus microphyllus"

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(Taxonomic notes)
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| range_map_caption = Natural range of ''Ceanothus microphyllus'' from USDA NRCS [http://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEMI4 Plants Database].
 
| range_map_caption = Natural range of ''Ceanothus microphyllus'' from USDA NRCS [http://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=CEMI4 Plants Database].
 
}}
 
}}
Common name: littleleaf buckbrush
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Common name: Littleleaf Buckbrush
 
==Taxonomic notes==
 
==Taxonomic notes==
 
The specific epithet refers to the reduced leaves that are tiny rounded nubs.<ref name="hawthorn">[[http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/01/littleleaf-new-jersey-tea-ceanothus.html]]. Native Florida Wildflowers. Accessed: April 12, 2016</ref>
 
The specific epithet refers to the reduced leaves that are tiny rounded nubs.<ref name="hawthorn">[[http://hawthornhillwildflowers.blogspot.com/2010/01/littleleaf-new-jersey-tea-ceanothus.html]]. Native Florida Wildflowers. Accessed: April 12, 2016</ref>
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Synonyms: none<ref name=weakley>Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. Edition of 20 October 2020. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.</ref>
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Varieties: none<ref name=weakley/>
  
 
==Description==  
 
==Description==  
 
<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
 
<!-- Basic life history facts such as annual/perrenial, monoecious/dioecious, root morphology, seed type, etc. -->
  
This species has been observed to have several main branches near the base<ref name="fsu">Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, R. A. Norris, Andre F. Clewell, Robert K. Godfrey, Steve L. Orzell, R. Komarek and Helen Roth. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla. Georgia: Decatur, Grady, and Thomas.</ref>.
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''C. microphyllus'' is a perennial shrub that is in the Rhamnaceae family. It has small leaves that are less than 1/2 inch long, and usually reaches heights of 1 foot with 2-3 feet in spread.<ref name= "lady bird">[[https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php?search_field=&newsearch=true]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: April 4, 2019</ref> This species has been observed to have several main branches near the base.<ref name="fsu">Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, R. A. Norris, Andre F. Clewell, Robert K. Godfrey, Steve L. Orzell, R. Komarek and Helen Roth. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla. Georgia: Decatur, Grady, and Thomas.</ref>The flowers have obdiplostemony stamens, five clawed petals, and white. Fruits are explosively dehiscent. Mature fruits are dry, and three lobed.<ref>Coile N.C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11.</ref>
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
It is found in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. It is listed as vulnerable in Alabama and Georgia<ref name="natureserve">[[http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ceanothus+microphyllus]]NatureServe. Accessed: April 12, 2016</ref>.
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It is native to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.<ref name= "USDA">USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 4 April 2019).</ref> <ref>National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.</ref> It is listed as vulnerable in Alabama and Georgia.<ref name="natureserve">[[http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Ceanothus+microphyllus]]NatureServe. Accessed: April 12, 2016</ref> Weakley notes that ''C. microphyllus'' is found a few kilometers away from the South Carolina border, and may spread to that state.<ref name= "Weakley"/>
  
 
==Ecology==
 
==Ecology==
 
===Habitat===<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->  
 
===Habitat===<!--Natural communities, human disturbed habitats, topography, hydrology, soils, light, fire regime requirements for removal of competition, etc.-->  
This species has been found in open longleaf pine-wiregrass savannahs, ridges, slopes, and wetlands. It has been observed to grow in well-drained dry loamy sands in the uplands as well as mesic environments. Associated species include ''Pinus palustris'' and ''Aristida stricta''<ref name="fsu"/>.
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This species has been found in open longleaf pine-wiregrass savannahs, sandhills, ridges, slopes, and wetlands. It has been observed to grow in well-drained dry loamy sands in the uplands as well as mesic environments.<ref name="fsu"/><ref name= "Weakley"/>
<!--===Phenology===--> <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, seed dispersal, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
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Associated species include ''[[Pinus palustris]]'' and ''[[Aristida stricta]].''<ref name="fsu"/><ref name= "Weakley">Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.</ref>
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===Phenology=== <!--Timing off flowering, fruiting, and environmental triggers.  Cite PanFlora website if appropriate: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ -->
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''C. microphyllus'' has been observed flowering from March to May and July with peak inflorescence in April.<ref>Nelson, G.  [http://www.gilnelson.com/ PanFlora]: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/  Accessed: 7 DEC 2016</ref>
  
 
===Seed dispersal===
 
===Seed dispersal===
According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by explosion mechanisms or by ants. <ref name="KK"> Kay Kirkman, unpublished data, 2015. </ref>
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This species is thought to be dispersed by ants and/or explosive dehiscence. <ref>Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.</ref>
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<!--===Seed bank and germination===-->
 
<!--===Seed bank and germination===-->
  
 
===Fire ecology===<!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses-->  
 
===Fire ecology===<!--Fire tolerance, fire dependence, adaptive fire responses-->  
This species occurs in mature longleaf pine communities that are frequently burned<ref name="fsu"/>.
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This species occurs in mature longleaf pine communities that are frequently burned.<ref name="fsu"/>Resprouts after quick burning fire.<ref>Coile N. C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11</ref>
<!--===Pollination===-->  
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<!--===Use by animals===--><!--Herbivory, granivory, insect hosting, etc.-->  
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===Pollination===
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Pollinators are necessary for fruits to form. Many insects are attracted to the flowers.<ref>Coile N.C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11</ref>
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===Herbivory and toxicology===
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Trace amounts of ''C. microphyllus'' have been found to be eaten by white-tailed deer.<ref name= "Harlow">Harlow, R. F. (1961). "Fall and winter foods of Florida white-tailed deer." The Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences 24(1): 19-38.</ref>
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<!--===Diseases and parasites===-->
 
<!--===Diseases and parasites===-->
  
==Conservation and management==
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==Conservation, cultivation, and restoration==
  
==Cultivation and restoration==
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==Cultural use==
 
==Photo Gallery==
 
==Photo Gallery==
 
<gallery widths=180px>
 
<gallery widths=180px>

Latest revision as of 19:35, 22 May 2023

Ceanothus microphyllus
Ceanothus microphyllus Gil.jpg
Photo by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order: Rhamnales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Ceanothus
Species: C. microphyllus
Binomial name
Ceanothus microphyllus
Michx.
CARP CORY dist.jpg
Natural range of Ceanothus microphyllus from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Littleleaf Buckbrush

Taxonomic notes

The specific epithet refers to the reduced leaves that are tiny rounded nubs.[1]

Synonyms: none[2]

Varieties: none[2]

Description

C. microphyllus is a perennial shrub that is in the Rhamnaceae family. It has small leaves that are less than 1/2 inch long, and usually reaches heights of 1 foot with 2-3 feet in spread.[3] This species has been observed to have several main branches near the base.[4]The flowers have obdiplostemony stamens, five clawed petals, and white. Fruits are explosively dehiscent. Mature fruits are dry, and three lobed.[5]

Distribution

It is native to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.[6] [7] It is listed as vulnerable in Alabama and Georgia.[8] Weakley notes that C. microphyllus is found a few kilometers away from the South Carolina border, and may spread to that state.[9]

Ecology

Habitat

This species has been found in open longleaf pine-wiregrass savannahs, sandhills, ridges, slopes, and wetlands. It has been observed to grow in well-drained dry loamy sands in the uplands as well as mesic environments.[4][9]

Associated species include Pinus palustris and Aristida stricta.[4][9]

Phenology

C. microphyllus has been observed flowering from March to May and July with peak inflorescence in April.[10]

Seed dispersal

This species is thought to be dispersed by ants and/or explosive dehiscence. [11]


Fire ecology

This species occurs in mature longleaf pine communities that are frequently burned.[4]Resprouts after quick burning fire.[12]

Pollination

Pollinators are necessary for fruits to form. Many insects are attracted to the flowers.[13]

Herbivory and toxicology

Trace amounts of C. microphyllus have been found to be eaten by white-tailed deer.[14]


Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Cultural use

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. Jump up [[1]]. Native Florida Wildflowers. Accessed: April 12, 2016
  2. Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 Weakley, A.S. 2020. Flora of the Southeastern United States. Edition of 20 October 2020. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  3. Jump up [[2]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: April 4, 2019
  4. Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, R. A. Norris, Andre F. Clewell, Robert K. Godfrey, Steve L. Orzell, R. Komarek and Helen Roth. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Liberty, and Wakulla. Georgia: Decatur, Grady, and Thomas.
  5. Jump up Coile N.C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11.
  6. Jump up USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 4 April 2019).
  7. Jump up National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  8. Jump up [[3]]NatureServe. Accessed: April 12, 2016
  9. Jump up to: 9.0 9.1 9.2 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  10. Jump up Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 7 DEC 2016
  11. Jump up Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.
  12. Jump up Coile N. C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11
  13. Jump up Coile N.C. 1992. Little-leaf Redroot. Palmetto 12(1):10-11
  14. Jump up Harlow, R. F. (1961). "Fall and winter foods of Florida white-tailed deer." The Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences 24(1): 19-38.