Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Ericales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Lyonia lucida
FAMILY
Ericaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Read more about Shining Fetterbush at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Readily distinguished by the glossy, coriaceous leaves with a prominent vein running along the margins. When in flower in large numbers, the odor is cloyingly sweet, per Weakley's Flora (2022)
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lyonia lucida
FAMILY
Ericaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Lyonia lucida
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 145-11-003:
Lyonia lucida FAMILY Ericaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Desmothamnus lucidus
COMMON NAME:
Shining Fetterbush, Lyonia, Hemleaf
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
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USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide pnd_lylu3_003_lvd
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_neni2_001_lvd
)
JK Marlow jkm060423_024
April Charleston County SC
Francis Marion National Forest
Flowers in axillary fascicles, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
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JK Marlow jkm130406_762
April Richmond County GA
Fort Gordon
)
JK Marlow jkm130406_763
April Richmond County GA
Fort Gordon
)
JK Marlow jkm130406_770
April Richmond County GA
Fort Gordon
)
JK Marlow jkm160416_257
April Lowndes County GA
)
JK Marlow jkm160416_259
April Lowndes County GA
Distinguished by glossy coriaceous leaves with a prominent vein along margins, per Weakley's Flora.
)
Will Stuart wil_llucida_0172
April Scotland County NC
North Carolina Sandhills Gamelands
Flowers grow in rows of axillary clusters toward branch tips, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011).
)
Will Stuart wil_llucida_0172b
April Scotland County NC
North Carolina Sandhills Gamelands
Flowers resemble Vaccinium formosum but are narrower and pink- or red-tinged, per Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011).
)
Jerry Bright jeb_mg_0672
May Kershaw County
Goodale State Park
Corolla less than 5mm broad, usually pink, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
)
Jerry Bright jeb_mg_4342
May Kershaw County SC
Goodale State Park
)
Sharleen Johnson shj_519284053494884
December Charleston County SC
Francis Marion National Forest
)
Sharleen Johnson shj_671502557844965
December Charleston County SC
Francis Marion National Forest
)
Sharleen Johnson shj_886409945715903
December Charleston County SC
Francis Marion National Forest
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Lyonia lucida
FAMILY
Ericaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Lyonia lucida
FAMILY
Ericaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Lyonia lucida
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 145-11-003:
Lyonia lucida
FAMILY
Ericaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Desmothamnus lucidus
885
Shrub
Perennial
Habitat: pocosins, wet woodlands, blackwater swamp forests, other acidic wetlands, especially if peaty, per Weakley's Flora
Native to the Carolinas & Georgia
Common in Coastal Plain (rare in Piedmont)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
LEAVES:
Evergreen
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Pink
(rarely white)
5-lobed calyx
5-lobed urceolate corolla
10 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Capsule
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses (Miller & Miller, 2005) p362
- Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Wasowski & Wasowski, 1994, 2020) p091
- Guide to the Wildflowers of SC, 1st ed. (Porcher & Rayner, 2001) p307
- Guide to the Wildflowers of SC, 2nd ed. (McMillan, Porcher, Rayner, & White; 2022) p416
- How to Recognize Shrubs (Grimm, 1966) p228
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p111
- Wildflowers of the Carolina Lowcountry (Porcher, 1995) p116
- Wild Flowers of NC, 2nd edition (Justice, Bell, & Lindsey, 2005) p181
- Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Georgia (Chafin, 2016) p170
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p204
- Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region (Sorrie, 2011) p285
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