| Pondberry is a rare colonial shrub of wet areas in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina, currently known from Bladen, Cumberland, and Sampson counties. There is also a very old collection from Orange County in the Piedmont, but this population is probably gone. Lindera melissifolia, Federally listed as endangered, is similar to Lindera benzoin and other species of spicebush, but grows in short colonial clumps. Weakley describes the fragrance of the crushed leaves as like that of Sassafras, while that of the rare Lindera subcoriacea is lemony, and that of L. benzoin is spicy. Lindera subcoriacea has thicker leaves, which are pubescent and glaucous (hairy and whitened) beneath and have rounded tips. The leaves of Lindera benzoin are broader, with cuneate bases, and glabrous above. Those of Lindera melissifolia are narrower with more rounded bases and pubescent above. Pondberry Bay Preserve, Sampson Co., NC 3/25/07.
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| The flowers are small and yellowish. Sampson Co., NC 3/25/07.
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| Bark of a small stem. Sampson Co., NC 3/25/07.
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| Bark detail of a cluster of stems of various sizes. Sampson Co., NC 3/25/07.
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