Lindera melissifolia (Walter) Blume

Southern Spicebush; Pondberry; Hairy Spicebush; Jove's Fruit

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Pondberry is a native deciduous shrub in the Laurel family (Lauraceae). Pondberry was discovered by Samuel Buckley in Wilcox County in 1840 but has not been seen from that county since that time despite numerous searches. In 2004 it was discovered in Covington County. Pondberry occurs in low woods, along the margins of cypress ponds, and in wet depression on the Coastal Plain. It is a colonial shrub rarely more than 3 feet tall. The bark is brown or gray and smooth. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to ovate in outline, pubescent on both surfaces, with ciliate margins. The leaves “droop” throughout the growing season and plants appear wilted. The leaves turn bright, clear yellow before falling in the autumn. The leaves are strongly aromatic when crushed with the odor of Sassafras. Flowers are produced in the later winter before the leaves. The flowers are produced in axillary clusters. Staminate and pistillate flowers are produced on different plants. Flower lack petals and have bright yellow tepals. Staminate flowers have 2 whorls of tepals and 9-12 stamens. Pistillate flowers have one whorl of tepals and an inner whorl of nectar producing scales. The fruit is a bright red ellipsoid drupe. Pondberry is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G2G3 species (G2 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors. G3 - Imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors). It was listed as an Endangered Species by US Fish and Wildlife Service on July 31, 1986.--A. Diamond

Listed as <a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=Q2CO">Federally Endangered</a> as of 31 Jul 1986.</a>

Native Endangered-US OBL (NWPL) S1 (State Rank) G2G3 (Global Rank)

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