OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Magnoliids: Laurales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Tamala palustris   FAMILY Lauraceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Persea palustris   FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Persea palustris

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 084-01-001?:

Persea borbonia   FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Tamala pubescens

(?) -

Persea borbonia var. pubescens

 

COMMON NAME:
Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

Manual of the Trees of North America (Exclusive of Mexico) (Sargent, 1905)    mtna_i_390

        

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913    pnd_pepu19_001_lvd

        

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm160416_205

April    Lowndes County    GA

The hairs of T. palustris leaves are a distinctly different character than those of T. borbonia, per Weakley's Flora (2022).

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm160416_209

April    Lowndes County    GA

The newly emerged leaves contrast sharply with those that have overwintered.

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm160416_210

April    Lowndes County    GA

Crushed leaves have a fragrance similar to the related commercial bay leaf, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

Will Stuart    wil_8703627629_369141b06b

May    Chesterfield County    SC

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Lvs abaxially densely pubescent when young w rusty brown erect crisped hairs, per Flora of North America.

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

Will Stuart    wil_9079913593_687bea71dc

June    Chesterfield County    SC

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

The outer 3 perianth segments about 2mm long, the inner about 1mm long, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

Will Stuart    wil_9079934375_592532f1b3

June    Chesterfield County    SC

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

The flower buds develop in clusters on very red-hairy young stems. — Will Stuart

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm090717_054

July    Georgetown County    SC

Hobcaw Barony

Leaf blade ovate to elliptic; leaf surface adaxially green, lustrous, per Flora of North America.

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm090717_140

July    Georgetown County    SC

Hobcaw Barony

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

JK Marlow    jkm090717_142

July    Georgetown County    SC

Hobcaw Barony

image of Tamala palustris, Swamp Redbay, Swamp Bay

Will Stuart    wil_9047993513_c64d737082

September    Columbus County    NC

Lake Waccamaw State Park

Pubescence of underside of mature leaves shaggy, rusty, abundant on main veins, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide (Kirkman, Brown, & Leopold, 2007).

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Tamala palustris   FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Persea palustris   FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Persea palustris

INCLUDED WITHIN VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 084-01-001?:
Persea borbonia   FAMILY Lauraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Tamala pubescens

(?) -
Persea borbonia var. pubescens

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

2313

Shrub; Tree
Perennial

Habitat: swamps, pocosins, bay forests, maritime forests, generally in wet peaty soils, but also in fairly dry, sandy soils in maritime forests, per Weakley's Flora

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Common

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

LEAVES:
Evergreen
Simple
Alternate
Margins entire

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Yellowish
Radially symmetrical
3-merous
6 persistent tepals
9-12 stamens (inner 3 sterile)
Superior ovary
Bisexual

Flowers in compact clusters in axillary stalks

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Blue/Black
Drupe

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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