Euonymus obovatus
Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 155. 1818.
Shrubs 0.1–0.5 m. Stems creeping rooting at nodes; young branches 4-angled, not corky winged. Leaves deciduous; petiole 3–5 mm; blade obovate, 2–8 × 1.5–4.5 cm, base attenuate, margins crenate-serrate, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, 1–5-flowered. Flowers: sepals 5; petals 5, pale green, often suffused with purple, round, 2–3 mm diam.; stamens 5; ovary spiny. Capsules pink, subglobose, 10–12 mm diam., unlobed or very shallowly 4–5-lobed, lobes clearly connate, surface spiny. Seeds subglobose, 4.5–5.5 mm; aril bright orange.
Phenology: Flowering spring; fruiting summer–fall.
Habitat: Rich, dry, or moist woods.
Elevation: 100–1000 m.
Distribution
Ont., Ark., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., Mich., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., W.Va.
Discussion
Euonymus obovatus can be difficult to separate from E. americanus, but the rooting stems of E. obovatus clearly differentiate them.
Selected References
None.