Shrubs 2–3.5 m. Stems erect or arching, not rooting at nodes; young branches 4-angled, not corky winged. Leaves deciduous; petiole 1–3 mm; blade oval to lanceolate, 3–10 × 0.8–3 cm, base cuneate, obtuse, to rounded, margins crenate-serrate, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, 1–3-flowered. Flowers: sepals 5; petals 5, pale green, often suffused with purple, round, 2–3 mm diam.; stamens 5; ovary spiny. Capsules red or pink to purple, subglobose, 11–13 mm diam., unlobed or very shallowly 4–5-lobed, lobes clearly connate, surface spiny. Seeds subglobose, 4.5–5.5 mm; aril red. 2n = 64.

Phenology: Flowering spring–summer; fruiting late summer–early winter.
Habitat: Rich woods, bluffs, flood plains, along streams, hammocks, sandy banks.
Elevation: 0–400 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.