| Spicebush is a fairly common large shrub (sometimes a small tree) of streamsides and bottomlands. The simple, entire, alternate, deciduous leaves are extremely aromatic. Try crushing one for easy identification. Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.
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| The variety found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain is Hairy Northern Spicebush, var. pubescens (Palmer & Steyermark) Rehder (left), which has somewhat hairy undersides (at least on the midrib) and young twigs. In the Mountain region, the common variety is var. benzoin, which is hairless. The hairs on pubescens may require a hand lens to see. Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.
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| Leaf underside detail of same plant, showing hairs on the petioles. Caswell Co., NC 5/21/10.
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| Emerging leaves of var. benzoin. Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
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| Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| Hairy underside of var. pubescens along the New River in Virginia (mountain region, but low elevation). Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| The pale flower buds are distinctively ball-shaped. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus). Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.
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| The small yellowish flowers are one of the first flowers to appear in the spring, before leaf-out. Bath Co., VA 4/19/05.
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| Hairy Northern Spicebush, var. pubescens, just finishing flowering. Durham Co., NC 4/1/07.
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| Orange Co., NC 3/13/2011.
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| Person Co., NC 4/1/06.
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| Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.
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| Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.
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| Developing fruits. Durham Co., NC 6/21/2009.
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| Developing fruits. Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| The bright red fruits mature in September. The name of the plant comes from these drupes, which have been used as a substitute for allspice. Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.
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| The bark is speckled with pale lenticels. Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.
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| Bark of a large shrub. Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.
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| Carroll Co., VA 4/11/10.
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