Calycanthus floridus

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Calycanthus floridus
(MHNT) Calycanthus floridus - Les Martels, Giroussens Tarn.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Laurales
Family: Calycanthaceae
Genus: Calycanthus
Species:
C. floridus
Binomial name
Calycanthus floridus
L. [2]

Calycanthus floridus, or commonly known as the eastern sweetshrub, Carolina all spice, or spicebush, [3] is a species of flowering shrub in the family Calycanthaceae. [4] It is identifiable by its dark red flowers and fragrant scent. It is non-invasive and is found in the Southeastern United States region. The Nature Conservancy considers its conservation status to be G5, globally secure, indicating it is at low risk of extinction. [1] It is presumed to have been extirpated from Ohio. [1]

Contents

Description

Calycanthus floridus is a shrub that grows to be around 6 to 9 ft (2 to 3 m) tall. [5] Its leaves are a dark green with a pale underside. They are ovate or elliptical in shape and grow to be about 6 inches (15 cm) in length. [5] The leaves are simple, entire, and arranged oppositely along the stem. [6]

The flowers are solitary, featuring a reddish brown to reddish purple color when they bloom in spring. They are aromatic and so are the leaves when bruised. [5] The flowers have a hypanthium that is more than 2 cm (0.8 in) long. [7] The shape of the flowers can be cylindrical, ellipsoid, pyriform, or globose. [8] The flowers have numerous tepals that can either be oblong-elliptic or obovate-lanceolate at maturity. [8] The flowers are perfect, having both stamens and carpels on the flowers. The stamens are numerous, connective beyond the anthers. [7] The carpels are numerous. They are free, with a single ovary in a locule. [7]

The fruits are indehiscent pseudocarps that are about 8 cm (3 in) in length and 5 cm (2 in) in diameter at maturity. [7] They are formed within the receptacle and contain numerous achenes that are roughly 10 mm (0.4 in) long with a 5 mm (0.2 in) diameter.

Taxonomy

Oldest illustration, from a work by Mark Catesby published from 1731 onwards The natural history of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands, 1754 Garrulus Carolinensis - The Chatterer (19117862074) rev.jpg
Oldest illustration, from a work by Mark Catesby published from 1731 onwards

Calycanthus floridus was first scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1759. [2] It was the only species in his new genus Calycanthus. Linnaeus referred to an earlier illustration by Mark Catesby, [9] contained in a work published from 1731 onwards. Plants of the World Online accepted two infraspecies: [10]

ImageSubspeciesDescriptionDistribution
Calycanthus floridus flower.JPG Calycanthus floridus var. floridus (syn. C. mohrii)eastern sweetshrub; twigs pubescentAlabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia
Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus 2019-05-19 04.jpg ''Calycanthus floridus var. glaucus(Willd.) Torr. & A.Gray (syn. C. fertilis)eastern sweetshrub; twigs glabrous (smooth).Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

Distribution and habitat

Calycanthus floridus is native to the eastern United States. [11] It prefers sunny habitats but can tolerate moderate amounts of shade. It grows well in environments that feature moist substrate. [12]

Uses

It is used in horticulture as the flowers are showy and fragrant. [12] The bark of the plant is edible and is reportedly used as a substitute for cinnamon. [13] The petals of the flower are also reportedly used in medicinal tea-making. [13] Strong caution is advised however, as an alkaloid in the plant may lead to heart convulsions. [13] The viscous substance within the plant is reportedly used as a disinfectant. [13]

It is highly resistant to diseases and insects, although it is prone to infection by Agrobacterium tumefaciens , which leads to the formation of crown galls on the stems. [11] [14]

This plant has been marked as a pollinator plant, supporting and attracting beetles. [15]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Elaeagnus commutata</i> Species of flowering plant

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References

  1. 1 2 3 NatureServe (4 August 2023). "Calycanthus floridus". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  2. 1 2 "Calycanthus floridus L." International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens . Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  3. "Calycanthus floridus (Bubby Bush, Carolina Allspice, Common Sweetshrub, Spicebush, Sweet Betsy, Sweet Bubby Bush, Sweetshrub, Sweet Shrub) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  4. "Plants Profile for Calycanthus floridus (eastern sweetshrub)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  5. 1 2 3 "Calycanthus floridus - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  6. "Carolina allspice". www.mortonarb.org. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Radford, Albert E. (1968). Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Ahles, Harry E.,, Bell, C. Ritchie. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN   0-8078-1087-8. OCLC   355003.
  8. 1 2 "Calycanthus floridus". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  9. Linnaeus, C. (1759). "Calycanthus". Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Vol. II (10th ed.). Stockholm (Holmia): Salvius. p. 1066.
  10. "Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  11. 1 2 "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  12. 1 2 "Calycanthus floridus | Landscape Plants | Oregon State University". landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice, Eastern sweetshrub, Strawberry Bush, Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  14. Gilman, Edward (27 May 2015). "Calycanthus floridus, Carolina Allspice, Sweetshrub". EDIS. Archived from the original on 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
  15. "Planting Guides" (PDF). Pollinator.org. Retrieved 2022-01-29.