
Titi, pronounced "tie-tie", is a common wetland shrub or small tree of the Coastal Plain, rare in the Piedmont of North Carolina.
Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Titi is occasional in the western Piedmont, as here along Barnes Creek near Dark Mountain.
Emerging leaves.
Uwharrie National Forest, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.

Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

The entire, smooth, leathery leaves are semi-evergreen.
Wake Co., NC 5/30/2011.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

Craven Co., NC 8/27/06.

Bladen Co., NC 10/7/06.

Titi is quite showy in bloom, when it produces numerous racemes of white flowers (which earns it the name racemiflora - raceme + flower). The flowers usually do not attract butterflies.
Carteret Co., NC 6/23/04.

Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Unripe fruits.
Craven Co., NC 8/27/06.

Ripe fruits. The spongy, drupe-like fruits are brownish when ripe.
Robeson Co., NC 10/4/2009.

Yates Mill Pond, Raleigh, NC 9/13/2012.

Yates Mill Pond, Raleigh, NC 9/13/2012.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Bark detail.
Bladen Co., NC 10/7/06.

Scaly bark of a larger tree.
Uwharrie National Forest, Montgomery Co., NC 4/17/2011.