Maleberry is a fairly common medium-sized shrub of moist habitats. The typical var. ligustrina (pictured here), which grows throughout North Carolina, has few leafy bracts in the inflorescences, while strikingly different coastal var. foliosiflora has leafy inflorescences.

Racemes of globose white flowers appear in spring and early summer.

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.

Flower detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

The simple, deciduous leaves are a distinctive grayish green and are covered with appressed hairs.

This species is called Maleberry or He-Huckleberry because it is similar to blueberry and huckleberry, but produces dry capsules instead of fleshy edible fruit.

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

The paler ribs of these ripening capsules are a distinctive feature of Lyonia species.

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

The dry capsules split open when ripe.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Bark detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.