Cliftonia

This article is about the tree. For other uses, see Black titi.

Cliftonia
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Cyrillaceae
Genus:	Cliftonia Banks ex C.F.Gaertn.
Species:	C. monophylla
Binomial name
Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britton
Natural range of Cliftonia monophylla
Close-up of natural range of Cliftonia monophylla

Cliftonia monophylla, the buck-wheat tree, buckwheat tree or black titi, is a tree native to the southeastern United States. It is the sole species in the genus Cliftonia.

Description

Cliftonia monophylla is a tree typically reaching a height of 18 feet (5.5 m) (some specimens grow to 45 feet (14 m)) with a crooked, multi-stemmed form. ^[2] It is an evergreen with dark, shiny, thick leaves and white to pinkish, fragrant flower clusters. ^[2]

Its fruits are "five winged drupes, yellowish and buckwheat shaped; hence the common name". ^[2]

Ecology

Cliftonia monophylla attracts pollinators such as honeybees and is also browsed by deer. ^[3]

Uses

Cliftonia monophylla has no known edible or medicinal uses. ^[4]

References

1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 - Cliftonia monophylla, Buckwheat-tree". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
2. "Cliftonia monophylla (Black Titi, Buckwheat Tree, Cliftonia, Ironwood, Titi) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
3. flawildflowers (2016-03-11). "Black titi". Florida Wildflower Foundation. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
4. "Cliftonia monophylla Ironwood, Buckwheat tree PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2026-01-14.