Common Wetland Plants of NC

COMMON WETLAND PLANTS
OF
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Report # 97-01 August 1997

COMMON WETLAND PLANTS
OF
NORTH CAROLINA
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North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
4401 Reedy Creek Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Report # 97-01 August 1997
1000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $5,500 or $5.50 per copy.

Introduction ........................................................................................... ... l
Table 1. Definitions for Wetland Indicator Status ............................... ...2
Trees .........................................................................................................4
Shrubs ................................................................................................... ..36
Herbs ..................................................................................................... ..69
Grasses, Sedges, Rushes ....................................................................... ..96
Vines ..................................................................................................... 117
Aquatic herbs ........................................................................................ 129
Appendix 1 Dominant Plants from Major Wetland Types .................. 137
Appendix 2 Leaf Characteristics and Flower Types .......................... .141
Glossary ................................................................................................ 143
Bibliography ......................................................................................... 148
Index -Plant List by Common and Scientific Name ............................149

Common Wetlurrd Plants of North Carolina is a field guide to our most
commonly encountered wetland flora. It is intended to be useful for novices and
casual observers as well as wetland scientists. Because vegetation is one of the
three criteria (hydrology, soils, vegetation) for an area to be considered a
wetland, it is an important factor in wetland evaluations. Wetlands are
intermediate areas between land and water, where aquatic and terrestrial
communities meet. Throughout wetlands, the presence of plants and their
subsequent adaptations to wetland conditions give evidence of long term wetland
hydrology. Cnnirnon Wetland Plants of North Carolina is intended to
accompany the Fielcl Guide to North Carolina Wetllands (NCDEHNR 1996). In
,the Field Guide to North Carolina Wetlands, fourteen major types of wetlands
and their most common plants are described as well as characteristic features of
these wetlands. Appendix 1 also lists dominant plants from these fourteen
wetland types. These wetland types include: wet flats, pocosins, ephemeral
4
wetlands, seeps, mountain bogs, bog forests, headwater forests, bottomland
` hardwood forests, swamp forests, freshwater marshes, estuarine fringe forests,
" brackish marshes, salt shrub wetlands and salt marshes.
g Plants most commonly encountered in wetlands are described and pictured
herein. This guide includes 128 of some of the most common wetland plants
found in the state. In Common Wetland Plants of North Carolina, characteristics
and descriptions of plant's habit (growth form), leaves, flowers, fruit, habitat and
field characteristics are discussed for each wetland plant.
r
For ease in identification, plants are arranged by growth structure and
type. The following categories are used: 1) trees; 2) shrubs; 3) herbs; 4) grasses,
' sedges and rushes; .5) vines; and 6) aquatic herbs. Preceding each category is a
list of common names, scientific names and wetland indicator status. Because
plants have different tolerances for hydric conditions, a wetland indicator status
1

is assigned to plants for each region of the United States. ]ndicator status may
vary within regions and the southeast region was used for t1~is manual since
North Carolina falls within this region. Table 1 explains these terms for
variations in hydrology. The indicator status is obtained from the 1996 National
List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands (Reed 1997). The facultative
indicators are sometimes assigned a positive or negative sign. n positive (+) sign
always indicates a strong tendency toward wetland conditions, while a negative
(-) sign infers less of an association with wetlands. Some plants may have more
than one indicator status depending on the geographic region in which they are
found. The indicator status for each plant described is found at the beginning of
each section of this manual.
Table 1. Definitions for Wetland Indicator Status
Obligate Wetland contain plants that almost always occur
OBL in wetlands 99°Io of the time)
Facultative Wetland contain plants that usually occur in
FACW wetlands 67-99°10 of the timel_ __ _____

Facultative (FAC) includes plants that are just as likely to
occur in wetland or non-wetland areas
(34-66% chance of occurring in
wetlands or non-wetlands)

Facultative Upland contain plants that occasionally occur
FACU in wetlands 1-33% of the time)
Upland (UPL) contain plants that almost always occur
in u lands (99°Io of the time
Diagrams of plant structure (leaf arrangement, shape, flower type, etc.) arc
found in Appendix 2. The bibliography contains wetland references that were
useful in preparing this manual. Wetland plants are listed in the index in the hack
2

by both common and scientific name. Throughout the manual, scientific names
' are listed according to Kartesz (1994). The original botanist or authority who
named each plant follows the scientific name. For some plants, a second name
follows the plant authority (which is in parenthesis), indicating that further
taxonomic work was conducted that led to a name change. Illustrations
throughout this manual were drawn and donated by Karen M. Lynch.
Wetlands are a valuable and vanishing resource and can provide useful
functions such as water storage and purification, wildlife and aquatic habitat and
outdoor recreation and education. It is hoped that visitors to wetlands will
recognize and appreciate the values of these wonderlands, beginning with the
observation of wetland flora and fauna.

~~~~ Wetland
status
Ash, Green Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'FACW
i Birch, River Betula nigra p'AG
Gums, tupelos
Black gum
Swamp black gum; Swamp
tupelo
Water tupelo
Box elder
Cedar, Atlantic White
Cypress, Bald
Elm, American
Hemlock, Eastern
Hop hornbeam
Ironwood
Loblolly bay
Maple, Red
Oaks
Oak, Cherrybark
Oak, Laurel
Oak, Overcup
Oak, Swamp Chestnut
Oak, Water
Oak, Willow
Pines
Pine, Loblolly
Pine, Longleaf
Pine, Pond
Pine, White
Persimmon
Redbay
Sourwood
Sweet bay
Sweetgum
Sycamore
Tulip poplar; Tulip tree
Willow, Black
Nyssa sylvatica
Nyssa hiflora
Nyssa aquatica
Acer negundo
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Taxodium distichum
Ulmus americana
T.suga canadensis
Ostrya virginiana
Carpinus caroliniana
Gordonia lasianthus
Acer rubrum
(coastal plain)
Quercus pagoda
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus lyrata
Quercus michauxii
Quercus nigra
Quercus phellos
Pinus taeda
Pinus palt~stris
Pinus serotina
Pinus strobus
Diospyros virginiana
Persea borbonia
Oxydendrum arboreum
(mountains)
Magnolia virginiana
Liquidambar styraciflua
Platanus occidentalis
Liriodendron tulipifera
(coastal plain)
Salix nigra
4

Green ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.
Family: 4~eaceMae f~~ve Family
Habit: Medium tree up to 24 meters (m).
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound leaves, 15 to 23 centimeters (cm) long.
Contain 5-9 oval or lanceolate toothed leaflets.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers inconspicuous with male and female flowers on separate
trees. Fruit is a samara.
Habitat: Low areas, natural levees, bottomlands and swamps in the piedmont and
coastal plain, mainly in brownwater streams.
Field characteristics: This is the most widely distributed of the ashes. Note
opposite branches, twigs more slender than hickories which have similar compound
leaves, but have alternate branches. Vegetative specimens (without samaras) of F.
pennsylvanica and F. americana are difficult to distinguish.
TREES ~'pmmpn Wetland Ptants of N.C.
5

River birch
Betula nigra L.
., . ;:;;:<;;:~ . .;<::~.:>... :r;..:;.+; .; .:::.::::::::;;...:;i<:ii:i::::`iiiii;:i?<:r.;i'<'i',•':i::~:is'ii°~::;ii;:;i:`:'isi~i'<';;::~<>i:::'<''iii:i::it:~:;i;:.`:. - ~7 -.-
~~. ~t ....:...:....::.:.......:..:.::...:.::.:
Habit: Deciduous, medium sized tree up to 30 m, with curly papery bark, peeling
horizontally.
Leaves: Alternate, doubly serrated, triangular or ovate leaves, 4-8 cm long. Leaves
contain 7-9 straight veins on each side of leaf.
Flowers/fruit: Male flowers are drooping catkins and femme flowers are in a cone-
like catkin.
Habitat: Flood plains, river and stream banks in deep soil. Found statewide, but
most common in the piedmont and coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Peeling bark and triangular leaves distinctive. Younger trees
have rusty colored bark, while older bark is darker. River birch often has several
main trunks and thin twigs '
....... ..... . t.~~t~ ~.,
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Black gum
Nyssa sylvatica Marsh.
Nyssa hiflora Walt.
............................ ...............
;:. .. ,.
~'a~tnl~~. Nyssaceae .::::.::..:::..:.::.;:.::..::..:::::~.::.::.:; S4urguaa~ F~nat~y ;
Habit: Medium to large tree, to 30 m.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptic, glabrous leaves up to 15 cm long. Leaves are entire or
with scattered teeth. Leaves appear clustered at the tips of branches. N. hiflora has
thicker, more narrow obovate leaves with rounded tips.
Flowers/fruit: Male and female flowers occur on separate trees. Fruit is a dark
blue-black drupe, 1-1.5 cm wide.
Habitat: N. sylvatica is found in dry uplands and wetlands statewide from the
coastal plain to the mountains. N. biflora (swamp black gum or swamp tupelo) is
usually found in standing waters in the coastal plain, mainly in poorly drained
areas.
Field characteristics: Three bundle scars are revealed when the leaf is pulled away
from the stem. Pith of blackgum is diaphragmed. Leaves turn a brilliant crimson in
autumn. Berries were formerly used for preserves.
T'~.5 Common Wetland Plants of N.C.
_7

Water tupelo
Nyssa aquatica L.
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:.

Box eider
Acer negundo L.
>:,
Habit: Small to medium tree, reaching 25 m. Twigs are shiny green with white
lenticels.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound with an odd number (3-9) of leaflets,
although 3 and S leaflets are most common. Leaflets are mostly ovate and toothed,
and are 5-10 cm long and 6 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Fruits consist of paired light yellow samaras, 3 cm long.
Habitat: Floodplains, stream banks, low woods of brownwater streams, throughout
NC.
Field characteristics: Sometimes confused with poison ivy. Look for more than 3
leaflets, distinctive green twigs and opposite branching.
__
__
T~~S Commdtx Wetland ~'lant~ bf N.C.
_.
9

Atlantic white cedar
Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S.P.
Fatuity: Cupressaceae _ __ ~taniper Family
Hahit: Medium sired evergreen tree to ?8 m in height.
Leaves: Flattened, scale-like leaves, 1-3 millimeters (mm) long and green on both
sides.
Flowers/fruit: Small inconspicuous cones; male cone is 2 mm long and female
cone is spherical, 6 mm diameter, with a crumpled appearance.
Habitat: Acidic swamps of the coastal plain, generally in peaty soils or other
poorly drained areas. Often grows in dense stands (or glades) to the exclusion of
other trees.
Field characteristics: Evergreen needles are 'flat'. Unfortunately wood is highly
desirable, so this species was extensively logged in the past. Old-growth and
extensive stands are now uncommon.
~1
10

Bald cypress
Taxodium distichum (L.) L.C. Rich.
--
,.,,
~~m~y: T~vd~a~~a~ ... : .......... :. :... << Redwvc~d Fa~i~
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree with a straight trunk and horizontal
branches. When young, the crown of cypress is conical, but becomes 'flat-topped'
with old age.
Leaves: Needles-like leaves up to 2 cm long occur in 1 plane and appear feather-
like on small alternate branches.
Flowers/fruit: Female cones are green spheres with markings. Male cones are less
conspicuous in drooping panicles.
Habitat: Swamps, forested wetlands, edges of ponds and rivers, mainly in the
coastal plain. Although it cannot germinate in water, cypress will thrive in open
water once established.
Field characteristics: Knees and buttressed trunks are characteristic. Note flat-
topped shape of older trees. A closely related species, T. ascen~lPns or Pond
cypress, is smaller, has appressed needles and exhibits a downward branching
pattern. Pond cypress grows in poorly drained areas such as Carolina bays and
non-riverine swamps.
<:.
.~:
'~F.S CQmman V4tetland Plants off' N.C.
11

American elm
Ulmus americana L.
~`~~ ~~c~ ...::.:::...:.:..:.....::.........:..:........::...........................:...... .
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree, to 35 m. The crown is broad and
spreading, with a characteristic vase-like pattern of branching. However, when
found in dense forest stands, this tree exhibits a narrow crown. Bark is ridged and
scaly.
Leaves: Alternate, doubly serrated oval leaves with a distinctly asymmetrical leaf
base. Leaf size varies greatly but average is about 8 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Fruit is small, flattened clusters of oval samaras, about 1 cm long.
Habitat: Most common in floodplains adjacent to brownwater streams, rich wet or
upland woodlands throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Upper leaf surface smooth, unlike other similar elms. Looks
very similar to Slippery elm which has leaves with rough upper surfaces. Scaly
bark of American elm is distinctive.
., ,
~~..... ...:........................ .................... ...... Q~Q~: 'etl~ ~~ ~~,.~......
12

Eastern hemlock
Tsuga canadensis L. (Carr.)
~1€.. .:..::::.:.::::~:.::...,:::..:::::::.::::::::::..:::::.:.::.::::::..:::.
.::.::
>t
Habit: Slow growing, long lived tall evergreen tree with alternate branches, to 30
m.
Leaves: Round tipped distinctly flattened needles, less than i .5 cm long. Needles
are arranged in 1 plane parallel to the ground.
Flowers/fruit: Small pendant fruiting cones, growing from the tips of branches, 1.5
cm long.
Habitat: Cool, moist ravines, usually on northern or eastern slopes in the mountain
region.
Field characteristics: Flat needles, in a single plane, distinctive, with 2 white lines
on underside of needles.
~'~~ ~~mmon Vt~etland Plants of N.C.
13

Hop hornbeam
Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) K. Koch
Farm. ~t~ae >: <:: >::« ::; ::>:.:::;:>:;:<::: ><;<; :«:::<:;:<::,; :::.::::::: .:::<;:; «;>::::;:;::>::::.. ~ ~~~~ F~~
Habit: Small, deciduous understory tree with scaly flaky bark, up to 9 m.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical or ovate with doubly toothed margins. Leaves are 5-13
cm long with acute or acuminate tips. The undersides are finely pubescent.
Flowers/fruit: Both male and female flowers occur on the same tree. Inflated male
flowers are catkins, up to 6 cm long which may persist thro~~gh summer. Female
catkins are upright on newly formed twigs. Fruit is a flattened papery nutlet and is
valued for wildlife.
Habitat: Uplands or moist woods, rocky ravines, well drained flood plains, mainly
in the piedmont and mountains. Occasionally found in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Similar to Ironwood, but bark is flaky rather than 'muscular'
<<s in Ironwood. Leaves of Hop hornbeam are 'hairy' while Ironwood has smooth
leaves. The tree gets its name from its hop-like fruit.
~~ts .
~t`1~"~` ......:.:....::::.::.::.::::.::::..::..::::..::::.::...:. :.....::.....: .
14

Ironwood, American hornbeam, Blue-beech
Carpinus caroliniana Walt.
... .................
Family; ,~~ateaa~ ..; '< Br~c~; l~azn~y
Habit: Small, deciduous understory tree with smooth, gray bark, up to 12 m.
Leaves: Alternate, ovate leaves, 3-15 cm long. Margins are doubly serrated and are
paler green on undersides. Undersides of leaves are glabrous. Leaf veins are
distinctive (particularly on leaf undersides) and strongly pinnate with veins running
straight to the leaf edges.
Flowers fruit: Flowers are in catkins, the male catkin is 3-4 cm long and the
female catkin is about 2 cm long. Fruits consist of small nuts, subtended by a leafy
3-lobed bract in drooping clusters, about 10 cm long.
Habitat: Floodplain forests and bottomlands throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Distinctive 'muscular' branches and trunk. Leaves of
Ironwood are smooth, in contrast to the pubescent leaves of hop hornbeam.
;:;
.•~ ~%-
~~•=:
~::~
:~ ;.
fruiting bract
__
__ _ _ _ __
~RI~F..S ~ommbn W~tl~rtd l'lar~ts of N.C.
15

Loblolly bay
Gordonia lasianthus (L.) Ellis
;i
ppww{{ pp~~t~68 ~~yy .........
l
"'a Fam
"l'e
Habit: Medium evergreen tree up to 20 m. Crown of young tree is narrow and
conical, becoming rounded when mature.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical, dark green shiny leathery leaves, 16 cm long and 5 cm
wide. Leaves are widest near leaf tips. Leaf margins are wavy with small blunt
serrations.
Flowers/fruit: Beautiful 5-petaled white flower with silky fringed stamens in the
center. Fruit is a capsule which splits into 5 parts as it releases seeds.
Habitat: Swamps, bay forests and pocosins in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Similar to other evergreen trees and shrubs in bay forests
rind pocosins, but leathery leaves of loblolly bay are wavy edged and have reddish
petioles.

y~{lP~~.
............. .
16

Red maple
Acer rubrum L.
y ;.:>.::;::::;::~:.«..:..;::: :.:::::......``..:. Maple 1~~ntily
Habit: Medium tree, sometimes reaching large stature.
Leaves: Opposite, lobed with 3-5 main points. Leaves 6-14 cm long, can be as
wide as long. Green above, lighter below.
Flowers/fruit: Red flowers, evident in early spring before leafing out. Fruit is a
double samara, with each half about 3 cm long.
Habitat: Low woods, uplands, floodplains, swamps, stream banks, across NC.
Very widespread in habitat.
'~'1~E~5 Common Wetland Plants of N.C.
17
Field characteristics: Opposite branching pattern, Showy clusters of reddish
flowers in early spring.

Cherrybark oak
Quercus pagoda Raf.

Habit: Large deciduous tree, to 40 m.
Leaves: Alternate, obovate to ovate in general outline, 10-20 cm long and 8-14 cm
wide, typically with 5 lobes, sometimes more. The end lobe is usually toothed and
spaces between lobes are generally sharp angled (not rounded).
Flowers/fruit: Flowers appear in spring, when leaves first emerge. Small, rounded
acorns are short-stalked and are 1 cm long in cup-like saucers.
Habitat: Low grounds including floodplains and bottomland woods occasionally
on slopes and bluffs, coastal plain and lower piedmont.
Field characteristics: Leaves with S lobes with sharp angled sinuses (or spaces
between the lobes).
~~ ........ .................... ... ... ...... ~~tv~t..~~~ .~l~s x......
18

Laurel oak
Quercus laurifolia Michx.
Fam~y: F~g~ce~~ .. ,
:::::::;::.;..:.:.>::.:........ beech F~m;ly
Habit: Medium to large tardily deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in which the
leaves gradually drop in late autumn and winter.
Leaves: Alternate, narrowly ovate or oblanceolate leaves that often persist through
winter. Leaves are thick with a lustrous surface, 3-9 cm long and 2-3 cm wide,
usually with entire margins and blunt apices with a short bristle tip.
Flowers/fruit: Acorns are faintly striped with shallow bowl-like cups enclosing
one third of the acorn.
Habitat: Floodplain forests, stream banks, swamps, bay forests in sandy soils of
the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Leaves are narrower and less leathery than live oak and
wider than willow oak. Leaves of seedlings may be 3-lobed and differ greatly from
typical tree leaves.
'DES Cnmmvn Wetland Plants of N.C.
19

Overcup oak
Quercus lyrata Walt.
__ _
~'~~ml~y Fagac~ae Beech Famuly
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree up to 30 m tall.
leaves: Alternate, usually 7-lobed and are obovate in general outline, although
variable. Leaves are pale on the undersides and are 12-23 cm long and up to 12 cm
wide.
Flowers/fruit: Acorns are globose or slightly flattened with the nut almost
completely covered by a ragged scaly cup, earning the name, 'overcup.'
Habitat: Bottomlands, swamps, flood plains and ephemeral wetlands in the coastal
plain and piedmont.
Field characteristics: Note lighter undersides of 7-lobed leaves and distinctive
acorns when present. Leaves are quite narrow in the middle.
N
:. :::;:.
.................. .
::<:>`>
20

Swamp chestnut oak
Quercus michauxii Nutt.
:..::..:......::.:::.:
B~ h 1~'.
F <'<>'>
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree, to 25 m, with thick branches projecting at
sharp angles to form around-topped crown.
Leaves: Alternate, obovate (in general outline) with crenate edges. Top of leaves
dark green and undersides gray to rust-colored and may be pubescent. Leaf size
variable, but commonly 18 cm long and 10 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Acorn is relatively large (about 3 cm long) with the cup enclosing
one third of the nut.
Habitat: Floodplain forests, ephemeral wetlands, wet woods and lower slopes in
the coastal plain and scattered localities in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: Distinctive crenate leaves. Similar to upland species of
Chestnut oak, however, Swamp chestnut oak is found in wetlands. Swamp chestnut
oak has light, grey, scaly bark.
r..~~ ~. ;
„~ ~' %,
-c
~1 ... ~ ~ ~ /, -~
- _ 1
I 1 -'~
~ ~,i f..
.__._ __- ~ j ~ ;
_~ .. .ice _ ..~'-`
~,~,+ }:
~~ ~
_ ; i t~
~ ~ r
_ ; + ~ J~
~ Comman' V~etland Punts of N.C.
21

Water oak
Quercus nigra L.
~:
~'
.. 3':::::::~ ::::::::::::::::::::::...................
.:.....:..: ........:.::::.:.::...::::.:.:::::::::::.....:.::.:.:::::::::::.:.:::..:..:.:::.::::::::::::::::...:.:::::.::::.:::::::::::..::
22

Willow oak
Quercus phellos L.
Fa~~: ~~gac~ ..... <' 8 ~ecb 1~amily
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree, up to 30 m. May be semi-evergreen in
southernmost localities.
Leaves: Alternate, entire, linear or linear-lanceolate with bristle tips. Leaves are up
to 12 cm long and 3 cm wide, though typically leaves measure 9 cm long and less
than 2 cm wide. Underside of leaf may have hairs on midrib.
Flowers/fruit: Acorn is yellowish or greenish brown, about I crn long with only
the base of the nut enclosed by the cup.
Habitat: Floodplains, forested wetlands and ephemeral wetlands in the coastal
plain and piedmont.
Field characteristics: "Willow-like' leaves tapering at both ends.

'~1~ ~©mmon Wetland plants of N.C.
23

Loblolly pine
Pinus taeda L.
~:;; ::: ' ::. ~~ ::. ~-~.:: "`;;5`:':`';fir?`!r``2<~'?~~r`''k'^:...,:.:;::;:>.~:::~:~;:::;:
~~:~~:
'?~.ts .
'~~ .....::...... ::::...::... ~r~...::::..:.....:: .:....::.:..:.::.........:::::::...::...:::.......
24

Longleaf pine
Pinus palustris Mill.
__
>. ,;
~'am. P'e~ Pine Famiiy
Habit: Elegant tall evergreen tree. Seedlings resemble clumps of grass
Leaves: Long needles, 25-40 cm in fascicles of 3. Needles arranged in dense tufts
near the ends of thick branches.
Flowers/fruit: Cones are large, 20-45 cm long and brown and prickly.
Habitat: Sandy soil in the coastal plain and adjacent piedmont; most numerous in
dry sands, but ranges to wet soils (savannas).
Field characteristics: Long, graceful needles and large cones help to distinguish
this from other pines. This is a long-lived tree that formerly covered extensive
areas of the southeastern U.S. Longleaf pine thrives when periodic fires burn over
its habitat.
TRH ~~mmon Wetland Punts bf N.C.
25

Pond pine
Pinus serotina Michx.
.:
~'am~y: ~''~~~+:.:.... Ane l~atr~ly
Habit: Medium sized evergreen tree, with a gnarled appearance.
Leaves: Needles are 10-20 cm long in clusters of 3 (mostly) or 4.
Flowers/fruit: Top-shaped closed cones remain on the tree for several years.
Habitat: Abundant in pocosins and found in wet flats along lake edges, mainly in
the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Tufts of twigs and needles are often found growing from the
trunks, especially after fires. Of the pines, Pond pine is the most tolerant of wet
conditions. Easily confused with Loblolly pine, but best distinguished by rounded
cones that are almost as wide as long.
::..:::::::.::.::;
:~°t~;::~ts
__
26

White pine
Pinus strobus L.
,.
~~mi: P~taw~ , .......... Pine Family
Habit: Attractive, medium to tall evergreen tree with whorled horizontal branches.
Leaves: Five bluish-green needles per bunch, measuring 8-12 cm long.
Flowers/fruit: Long, slender cones are without spines and are 10-1 S cm long.
Cones are connected by a long stalk.
Habitat: Mostly found in the mountains and at scattered localities in the piedmont,
mainly on mesic to moist, cool slopes.
Field characteristics: Whorled branching pattern, long slender cones. This pine's
needles spell the name, 'white' with 5 needles per bunch.
H
TE~
~~
"~il~' Common 'Wetland ~'~ants of N.C.
27

Persimmon
DiosPyros virginiana L.
...... ..........
l~booy Far~ul
Habit: Small to medium tree up to 16 m.
heaves: Alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves to 15 cm long, often with black
splotches.
Flowers/fruit: Male (yellow) and female (green) flowers occur on separate trees.
Male flowers grow in clusters of 2-3 and female flowers occur singly. Persimmon
fruit is orange and 2-4 cm wide.
Habitat: Forested wetlands, wet fields, dry woodlands, most common in the
piedmont, also present in the mountains and coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Distinctive, blocky 'alligator skin' bark. Contains 1 bundle
' scar when the leaf is pulled away from the stem, whereas similar blackgum has 3
bundle scars. Pith of twigs is solid or sometimes chambered. Before fruits are
' mature, they are very sour-bitter. Usually after the first frost, persimmon fruits are
edible.
............
"<~
0
~1 ............................. .. .
........................................................................................
....................................................................................... 28

Redbay
Persea borbonia (L.) Spreng.
,.;.:.
:::....
c:
..... ..,
..
~:::::::: %~.f::3:;%~ :%
r
....:
...::
~~
~:
~.....:
Habit: Medium sized evergreen tree or shrub to 22 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate, entire leaves contain red hairs on undersides. Leaves typically
contain prominent galls as pictured below on leaf edges. Leaves as big as 12 cm
long, 6 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Small inconspicuous white flowers, later form spherical green
berries which turn blue-black upon maturity.
Habitat: Low woods, swamps, bay forests and moist sandy areas mainly in tl~e
coastal plain and lower piedmont.
Field characteristics: Leaves are aromatic when crushed and can be used in
cooking (bay leaves).
~'iZFS Commdn 1~etlsuYd Plants of N.C.
2y

Sourwood
Oxydendrum arhoreum (L.) D.C.
~....:.
Habit: Small tree, usually leaning, wood is fairly weak. Stems are often brown on
upper surface and green underneath.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, long elliptic and finely toothed. Undersides of leaves
have small hairs along the midrib. Leaves 8-20 cm long and 3-7 cm wide. Leaves
are shiny-green and turn showy crimson-red in the fall.
Flowers/fruit: White, attractive, 'urn' shaped flowers in downward panicles on one
side of the stem. The fruit capsules, which contain many small seeds are upright on
the stem.
Habitat: Dry woods, slopes and streambanks throughout the state, although absent
from the southernmost portion of the outer coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Trunk is usually oblong in cross section, rather than round.
Leaves and twigs are bitter-sour as the common name implies, however, the honey
produced by bees using the sourwood flower is highly regarded.
:... 4.......
~.~ L~
30

Sweetbay (magnolia)
Magnolia virginiana L.
Fxm~y a~t~~c~~e Nlagnc~lia Family
Habit: Evergreen or semi-evergreen tree or shrub to 20 m. In the northern portion
of its range, sweetbay is deciduous.
Leaves: Alternate, entire, long and elliptical or oblong, tapering at the base of the
leaf. Leathery leaves are 6-15 cm long and 2-6 cm wide with white undersides.
Flowers/fruit: Typical 'magnolia' Flowers with 9-12 white petals; fragrant. Fruit is
a dark red cone, 5 cm long.
Habitat: Wet flatwoods, swamps, bay forests and savannas in the coastal plain.
Occasionally found in the piedmont in moist sandy areas.
Field characteristics: Sweetbay is similar to redbay, however, sweetbay leaves are
loot aromatic and have white undersides. Note stipular scar which encircles twig
and is characteristic of members of this family. Long terminal bud is distinctive.

TREES Commt~n i~V~tland Punts of N.C.
31

Sweetgum
Liquidamhar sty~raciflua L.
F~~r-~y: ~amm~lizace~e > . :.....'S~itcb Hazel 1~ami~y
Habit: Medium to large deciduous tree, to 40 m. Corky growth frequently appears
on branches.
Leaves: Alternate, palmately lobed (star-shaped) serrated leaves, measuring about
15 cm long by 11 cm wide. Leaves turn wine-burgundy in the fall.
Flowers/fruit: Fruiting clusters are spherical, woody, spiny. 'gum balls,' 2-3 cm
wide. The gum balls hang like ornaments and persist during winter.
Habitat: Swampy woodlands, moist uplands and old fields. Common throughout
NC in a wide range of soil conditions although absent at higher elevations.
Field characteristics: Distinctive, ridged corky growth often appears on twigs.
Star-shaped leaves and prickly gum balls are key features of this nearly
unmistakable tree.
-_
''.~,..
__ ~~
J,~
32

Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis L.

Habit: Large deciduous tree to 50 m. Bark on older trees is white and plate-like,
often very flaky.
Leaves: Alternate, toothed leaves up to 25 cm long and wide. Leaf petiole has a
swollen base and crown-like stipules are present at the point of attachment.
Flowers/fruit: The brown spherical fruiting 'head' is 2-3 cm in diameter, contains
many seeds and persists through winter. Seeds are released in spring.
Habitat: Flood plains, low moist woods, edges of lakes and streams throughout
NC.
Field characteristics: Bark on older trees forms a beautiful mottled patchwork of
white, gray, green and yellow. Upper bark of older trees is strikingly white.
`~~`~:... :...: Ctnu~on wetland Plants of ri`.C.
33

Tulip poplar, yellow poplar, tulip tree
Liriodendron tulipifera L.
Fam~3~:',l~~~go~~a~~~e l~agrroia Family
Habit: Large deciduous tree to 55 m, with a towering straight trunk and a pointed
crown.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, 4-lobed (or 6-lobed) leaves on long petioles.
Flowers/fruit: Flower has 9 petals and is tulip-shaped. Flowers are yellowish-
green with a splash of orange. Fruiting cones (aggregate of samaras) persist
through winter.
Habitat: Low woods, stream sides, rich moist uplands throughout NC.
Field characteristics: As is characteristic of the magnolia family, the stipular scars
(former attachment area of the stipule) completely encircle twigs. Tall straight
trunk is a key feature to identifying this species.
34

Black willow
Salix nigra Marsh.
~amlly: Salicaeeae Vitill<ow Fundy
Habit: Deciduous, small tree, up to 1 S m high.
Leaves: Alternate, finely toothed, narrowly lanceolate or sickle-shaped leaves, 12
cm long and 1-2 cm wide. Leaves are dark green and shiny with stipules
sometimes present at base of leaves.
Flowers/fruit: Male and female flowers on separate catkins. Fruit is a pod-
bearing-seed which is attached to a cottony mass for easy seed dispersal.
Habitat: Along streams, wet woodlands, fresh marshes, swamps and floodplains
throughout the state although absent in high mountain elevations.
Field characteristics: Twigs in winter are conspicuously red, yellowish or green.
Willow is popular for use in stream restoration projects as this tree roots easily.
~~
~:.
TREES Common Wetland Plants of N.C.
35
,, -. ~~~
.~

WETLAND
STATUS
Alder, Tag
Blueberry
Buckeye
Buttonbush
Chokeberry, Red
Dog-Hobble, Coastal
Dog-Hobble, Swamp
Dogwood, Silky
Elderberry
Fetterbush
Hearts-a-burstin'
Horse sugar
Hollies
Deciduous holly
Inkberry; Bitter gallberry
Sweet gallberry; Inkberry
Winterberry
Marsh elder
Pawpaw, Common
Privet, Chinese
Rhododendron; Great laurel
Sea ox-eye
Silverling; Groundsel tree
Spicebush
Swamp rose
Sweet pepperbush
Ti-ti
Viburnums
Black haw
Possum haw
Southern arrowwood
Virginia-willow
Wax-myrtle
Bayberry
Alnus serrulata
Vaccinium corymbosum
Aesculus sylvatica
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Aronia arbutifolia
Leucothoe axillaris
Leucothoe racemosa
Corpus amomum
Sambucus canadensis
Lyonia lucida
Evonymus americana
Symplocos tinctoria
Ilex decidua
Ilex glahra
Ilex coriacea
Ilex verticillata
Iva frutescens
Asimina triloba
Ligustrum sinense
Rhododendron maximum
Borrichia frutescens
Baccharis halimifolia
Lindera benzoin
Rosa palustris
Clethra alnifolia
Cyrilla racemiflora
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum nudum
Viburnum dentatum
Itea virginica
Myrica cerifera
Myrica heterophylla
36

Tag alder
Alnus serrulata (Ait.) Willd.
::
~~ ~~:::>:>::>><::'> ....~> >_>°.::<>:':. Bird Faim~~y
Habit: Multiple stemmed deciduous shrub up to 5 m in height. Twigs rusty and
pubescent, later becoming smooth.
Leaves: Alternate, ovate or obovate shaped with toothed margins. Leaves are 6-
10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm~wide.
Flowers/fruit: Both male and female flowers occur on shrub and are on stalks.
Female 'flowers' or catkins appear as miniature 'pine cones'. The male catkins are
initially short and eventually become dangling.
Habitat: Streambanks, freshwater marshes, and swamps throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Both female 'cones' and male catkins (fniits) persist
through winter.
'~_
_.---'f
............. .
Si.t71~a ,; ~omr~on Wetland Plants vfN.C
37

Highbush blueberry
Vaccinium corymhosum L.
Family: Ericaceae _ Heath Family
Hahit: Deciduous shrub up to 4 m tall with trailing stems.
leaves: Alternate, elliptical with entire or finely toothed edges.
Flowers/fruit: Clusters of small white or pink urn shaped flowers (usually less
than 1 cm long). Blueberries are produced in late spring.
Habitat: Swamps, forested wetlands, sometimes upland woods. Found in the
lower piedmont and coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Look for 'urn' shaped flowers or blueberries, chazacteristic
of this family. Gaylussacia spp. are very similar, but contain yellow dots of resin
on the undersides of the leaves.
;;.
f
'.~'
__ 38

Buckeye, Painted buckeye
Aesculus sylvatica Bartr.
~am>~y: ~ippQCa~skat~ac~a~ ....... :. Buckeye Faaxkly
Habit: Deciduous understory shrub up to 3 m tall, rarely to 10 rn.
Leaves: Oppositely arranged, palmately compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets.
Leaflets are 8-20 cm long and 3-7 cm wide. Leaflet shape is lanceolate or
obovate.
Flowers/fruit: Tubular flowers are cream, yellow or pink on a stalk. Buckeye
seeds are produced inside thick capsule.
Habitat: Rich woods, river banks and floodplains, mainly in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: This shrub is usually the first to leaf out in early spring and
also the first to drop leaves in the fall. The 'buckeye' seed produced is reputed to
be a good luck charm, however, it is poisonous to humans if ingested.
~~IRt18S Common Vttetland Piac~ts of At.C.
39

Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis (L.)
..........
Habit: Deciduous shrub, 1-3 m tall.
Leaves: Opposite or whorled and entire. Broad leaves are ovoid to elliptic, with
pointed ends. Leaves 7-IS cm long, 3-10 cm broad.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers are small white tubes, formed on globose heads about 3
cm in diameter. Clusters appear as balls or 'buttons' following summer flowering
period.
Habitat: Perimeter of lakes, ponds, freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, along
streams throughout NC, but less frequent in the mountains.
Field characteristics: Twigs have raised elongated lenticels. A brown triangular
membrane is present between petioles. Spherical 'buttons' persist through winter.
Early settlers were said to have used the buttons in clothing. When flowering,
butterflies are strongly attracted.
.:;.:.., ..::v{:::.:<:::::::;::::~:.:<: ;f4.:;:::;:::;:;:;>:~::>:«:;<::<>::>::<::><:::::;:::>::::~>~>>::>::>::~:<:<«<::::;<:><:>~:<:,,~.~>:~~:~::; ~:::;iii?;;x?::':?>:>::::>~::>«:~~ ~ ~<::«:~:•:::<::.:<::::::.:;.;;..::::::..:.;
r~:~:. : ~ ~ rt ~ ~:~~~~`
40

Red chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Pers.
..................
~a~i~ys ~.o~ac~ae i..... Rose l"amiiy:
Habit: Deciduous shrub, 2-3 m in height. This shrub spreads by rhizomes and
often forms dense colonies.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, elliptical leaves with finely toothed margins. Leaves
are 4-10 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. Leaves contain minute reddish brown
trichomes along midrib vein.
Flowers fruit: A cluster of small pinkish-white 5-petaled flowers are produced
on the ends of branches. Fruit is a red berry-like pome.
Habitat: Low woodlands, pine savannas, creek banks, seepage slopes and
swamps.
Field characteristics: Red fruits persist in the winter and leaves are hurgundy in
fall.
SHR~1B5 ~v~n Wetland Pia~ts ~f N.C.
41

Coastal dog-hobble
l,eucothoe axillaris (Lam.) D. Don
Habit: Low evergreen shrub with loose arching branches, up to 1.5 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate lanceolate to elliptic shaped leaves with toothed margins.
Leaves 5-13 cm long, 2-5 cm broad.
Flowers/fruit: Whitish 'urn' shaped flowers in racemes, originating from the axis.
1Zacemes typically consist of more than 15 flowers. Fruit is illustrated below.
Habitat: Wet woodlands and depressions, flood plains and streambanks, mainly
in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Trailing branches with alternate evergreen leaves, usually
in knee-high colonies in floodplain forests. Capsule (fruit) a distinctive dark
brown sphere with 5-lobed sutures. Thick evergreen stands of this plant were said
to make hunting dogs hobble, hence the common name.
.................................
42

Swamp dog-hobble
Leucothoe racemosa (L.) Gray
Fa~~; ricc~ce~ ......' ': ' i~e~th F~n~ly
Habit: Deciduous shrub reaching up to 4 m, but typically smaller.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical, finely toothed leaves. Size varies greatly on
branches. Leaves 3-9 cm long, 1-4 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: White 'urn' shaped flowers on straight or slightly arching racemes
which may be as long as 9 cm. Fruit is a dark brown capsule with S sutures.
Habitat: Swamps, cypress-gum depressions, along shorelines, mainly in the
coastal plain and lower piedmont.
Field characteristics: Distinctive fruit capsules arranged in racemes (as species
name implies). Difficult to identify if flowers or fruits are absent.
43
St~Rt`1~3~ Cdu~ Wetland Aladts of N.C.

Silky dogwood
Corms amomum P. Mill
Habit: Deciduous shrub reaching up to 5 m.
Leaves: Opposite, entire, ovate or elliptical shaped leaves with typical dogwood
venation. Leaves are up to 10 cm long and 7 cm wide.
` Flowers/fruit: Flat-topped cyme, which produce blue drupes (berry-like fruits).
Habitat: Marshes, swamp forests, along rivers and streams mainly in the
piedmont and mountains. Occasionally found in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Pith of second year growth is brown, whereas the pith of
Corms stricta (swamp dogwood -more coastal) is white.

44

Elderberry
Sambucus canadensis L.
Family: Capr~#'~iliaceae ~ klot~eyshckle ~a~~iy
Habit: Deciduous shrub up to 4 m tall. Contains multiple stems with white,
spongy or hollow pith.
Leaves: Opposite and pinnately compound with 5-11 leaflets (usually 7). Leaflet
edges contain toothed margins. Sometimes the lower leaflets are divided into 3
parts. Width of leaflets is variable from 5-15 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. Leaflets
may contain small stipule-like tissue at point of attachment. Stipule is present at
leaf base.
Flowers/fruit: Inflorescence consists of a dense flat topped or gently rounded
cyme clustered with small white 5-petaled flowers. Fruit is a purple berry.
Habitat: Common in open areas including freshwater marshes, swamps, alluvial
forests, wet pastures and is opportunistic in disturbed sites. Found statewide.
Field characteristics: Distinctive raised lenticels on bark, opposite compound
leaves. Fruit is edible and is used in preserves, wine and in other food, however
the rest of the plant is poisonous if consumed.
SHRUBS Commfln Wetland Plants of N.C.
45

Fetterbush
Lyonia lucida (Lam.) K. Koch
~~rmi~~: ~~ac~ae l~~ath ~ami~y
Habit: Small evergreen shrub, although may reach as high as 3 m. Usually
colonial in nature.
Leaves: Leathery, dark green leaves with smooth, entire margins. Leaves
generally elliptical and are 3-9 cm long by 1-4 cm wide on flattened branches.
Flowers/fruit: Beautiful when flowering. Clusters of pinkish (sometimes white)
'urn' shaped flowers arising from axis. Fruit is an oval capsule, about 5 mm long.
Habitat: Usually found where surface water is present most of the year in
pocosins, pine flats, savannas and bay forests mainly in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Note shiny evergreen leaves with prominent mid-vein.
Veins also encircling leaf margins is very characteristic. Branches are distinctly
flattened below nodes.
46

Hearts-a-burstin', Strawberry bush
Evonymus americans L.
Fa~mi~y: ~ela~trace~e ~3xtte~rswe~t Fat~l~
Habit: Small deciduous shrub to 2 or 3 m, but most commonly 1 m.
Leaves: Opposite, serrated, lanceolate leaves. Deciduous leaves are slow to drop,
sometimes lasting until early winter.
Flowers/fruit: Small light green, 5-petaled flowers. Fruit is a bumpy Lobed
reddish sphere which splits into 3-5 sections, exposing red seeds.
Habitat: Stream banks, slopes, rich woodlands throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Green, 4-sided branches, attractive fruits distinctive and
appearing like strawberries or bursting hearts as the common names imply.
Although this genus has long been referred to as Eu~~fiymus, it was recently
renamed to its original name, Evonymus, which was miscopied as E~u~nymus.
SHRUBS Gvrnu~on Wetland Plants of Id.C.
47

Horse-sugar, Sweetleaf
Symplocns tinctoria (L.) L'Ner.
Family: Symploc;aceae Sweetleaf Family
Hahit: Shnih or small tree reaching 8 m in height. Horse-sugar is tardily
deciduous with leaves persisting into winter and a few still into spring.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical or oblanceolate, often with red or purplish blotches.
Edges of leaves have minute serrations. Undersides of leaves have peach-like
fuzz.
Flowers/fruit: Yellow, fragrant petal-less flowers with many stamens in spherical
clusters close to stem. Fruit is an oblong green drupe.
Habitat: Rich woods, ravines, floodplain and bottomland forests, pine flats,
sandy thickets, mainly in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: As the common name implies, the leaves taste sweet when
chewed and are therefore a favorite of ungulates. This is a monotypic genus -the
only genus and species in the sweetleaf family. Often wrongly identified as
mountain laurel in some areas.
:;::<<:>::>:.;:<::::::.:::::<:> :::<<:>>::::.....:~vo. ~~ttaartd plants ~f
SI~I~LI :::.::..::::. _...
__
___ _ __
48

Deciduous holly, Possum haw
Ilex decidua Walt.
Fain`
__ ~ 9 Ho~~y Family
Habit: Large deciduous shrub or small understory tree, reaching 10 m.
Leaves: Elliptic to obovate, with create margins, 3-5 cm long and 1-3 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Fruit is a red spherical drupe that persists after leaves fall.
Habitat: Floodplain forests and along creeks and uplands, chiefly in the
piedmont.
Field characteristics: Corky leaf scars on twigs are distinctive as illustrated
below.
corky
leaf
scars
~~i17tJ~3S Gammon Wetland t'lants o~ N.C.
49

Bitter gallberry, Inkberry
Ilex glabra (L.) Gray
Habit: Evergreen colonial shrub to 2 or 3 m tall.
Leaves: Elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate leathery green leaves. Leaves are 2-5
cm long and 1-2 cm wide. Leaves are pointed at the tips and have a pair of teeth
pointing toward the apex. The undersides of leaves contain scattered punctate
reddish glands.
Flowers/fruit: Fruit is a black spherical 'berry-like' drupe when mature.
Habitat: Pine savannas, flatwoods, pocosins, bay forests. Mainly a coastal plain
species.
Field characteristics: Fruits (drupes) persistent throughout winter. Fruits from
'inkberry' have been used for producing ink. Leathery, evergreen leaves are
narrower than those of I. coriacea. Stipules at the base of the leaves are dark-
brown and obvious.
::.::.SRS:~:.:.:~ ::.::.::.:::.:::.>:>:.::.:~::.::.::.:.:::.:::.;:.:.:~;;;;:::;~:::;::.:::.;:.::.:::::::.::.:::.:.::.::.:::.::::;.:;;.:.::.:::.;::.:::;.::.::.::... .
50

Sweet gallberry, Inkberry
Ilex coriacea (Pursh) Chapm.
Family: Aguxfolaae~~e ' ., `'` Hv~ly F~triily
Habit: Evergreen shrub up to 5 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate, leathery elliptical or obovate leaves, with bristle-like teeth
usually covering the upper half of the leaf margin. Leaves are 4-9 cm long and
1.5-4 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Fruit is a shiny black, globose drupe which drops off when mature.
Habitat: Pocosins, bay forests, pine savannas and flatwoods in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Similar to 1. glabra, but generally a taller plant and with
wider leaves. The last pair of bristles are not paired as in 1. ~~lahra.
:.;
,_ .
.~
,: .
SHRUBS Common V~etland Plants of N.C.
Sl

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata (L.) Gray
.;.
v.:<..:
:<~
a~~ Fem.:>.:
Habit: Large deciduous shrub ranging from 1-4 m.
Leaves: Elliptical to obovate 4-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. Margins are
serrated and leave surfaces are rough (pubescent) with depressed veins. A pair of
small black stipules occur at the leaf base.
Flowers/fruit: The fruit is a drupe which appears as a bright red spherical berry;
it may persist into the winter.
Habitat: Swamps, alongside streams and wet woodlands, scattered across the
state.
............................
s2

Marsh elder
Iva frutescens (L.)
Fstunily. A~teraceae Composite or Altar Family
Habit: Dense shrub with many branches, 1-2 m tall.
Leaves: Opposite, (except in flowering branchlets), elliptic to lanceolate fleshy
leaves which measure 3-8 cm long and 0.5 to 2 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Greenish flowers occur in terminal spikes 3-10 cm lung.
Habitat: Brackish marshes, estuarine shores, mud flats and vacant lots in the
outer coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Terminal spikes of fruits with dark brown nutlets persist
through winter.
ti
SUSS ' Cvmmpn'~Vetland Plants of N.~.
53

Common pawpaw
Asimina triloha (L.) Dunal
~a~nily. A.nn~na~ea~ >... ~'ustard Apple Fly
Habit: Understory shrub or small tree up to 10 m, often forming colonies.
Leaves: Alternate, entire, oblanceolate leaves, with acuminate tips, about 23 cm
long and 8 cm wide. Leaves malodorus when crushed.
Flowers/fruit: Large (3-4 cm) burgundy flowers with 6 petals. Three burgundy
sepals are also present. Fruits are fleshy edible, yellow and banana-like, up to 12
cm long.
Habitat: Rich slopes, low woods, bottomlands.
Field characteristics: Usually an understory shrub. Distinctive flowers and
fruits help in recognition when present.
t~
~%
:/
.,
~~ ~~
~xRU~~ ;
54

Chinese privet
Ligustrum sinense Lour.
:; ..:
Family. C~leace~~ '. , , Olive Family
Habit: Evergreen shrub or small tree, often forming dense colonies, to 10 m in
height. Twigs and branchlets are densely pubescent.
Leaves: Opposite, entire, elliptical or ovate leaves, 4 cm long and 1-2 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Small white (unpleasantly) fragrant flowers forming panicles.
Fruits are bluish-black drupes.
Habitat: Low woods, disturbed wetlands and waste areas throughout the state.
Field characteristics: Opposite branches. Once established, this native from
China rapidly colonizes waste areas and wetlands.
~HR[.1~~ Cozut~n .Wetland- P'Ian~ts of N.C.
55

Rhododendron, Rosebay, Great laurel
Rhododendron maximum L.
::,.;::<::::::::::: >..:; death ~~l~r
Habit: Evergreen shrub, forming dense thickets.
Leaves: Alternate, shiny, dark leathery oblanceolate to elliptic leaves. Leaves are
10-30 cm long and 2-8 cm wide. Leaves droop when there's a frost and as
temperatures decrease, the leaves curl lengthwise. The colder the temperature,
the tighter the leaf curl.
Flowers/fruit: Showy, five petaled flower, light pink to white.
Habitat: Abundant in NC mountains in moist coves, ravines and in mountain
bogs. Also along stream banks and in mesic woods in the mountains and upper
piedmont.
Field characteristics: Showy evergreen leaves. Green parts of rhododendron are
toxic to animals as is honey made from Rhododendron flowers.
.. ,,,:.
__ 56

Sea Ox-eye
Borrichia frc~tescens (L.) DC.
;A~ter~c.~ae ........ .............: ......... ~ompasite ar ,Aster Fail y
Habit: Low growing succulent, rhizomonous shrub forming extensive colonies
almost to 1 m tall.
Leaves: Opposite, thick, narrow to broadly oblanceolate, 2-8 cm long and 1-3 crn
wide. Leaves mostly entire, although, sometimes slightly dentate. Petiole bases
attached in a 'U' shape against stem.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers are attractive and yellow and look like typical daisy
flowers.
Habitat: Common in brackish and salt marshes, mud flats and vacant Lots in the
outer coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Three prominent veins in leaves are distinctive as well as
the 'daisy' flower, which persist from summer through fall.
SHRUBS common Wetxand Plants of N.C.
__
57

Silverling, Groundsel tree
Baccharis halimifolia L.
>. , s~~r ~~::::
Habit: Broad-leaved deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub or small tree with
ascending branches 1-4 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate and toothed or entire with serrations mostly towards leaf apex.
Leaves are elliptic to obovate, 3-7 cm long and 1-4 cm wide, conspicuously pale
blue-green. Leaves subtending flowers are not serrated.
Flowers/fruit: White feathery flowers in small heads arranged in stalked clusters.
Habitat: Salt and brackish marshes, banks, old fields throughout the coastal plain
and piedmont, most common in maritime wetlands.
Field characteristics: This is the only member of the aster family reaching 'tree'
stature. When in flower and in fruit, the shrub appears white due to the cotton-
like flowers.
~~
~~• -.
~'~
~•.
. ;.
CY~: ii:4!'4i:~i; iiii:!(•i::i^/•:^:1.~:::?iii:v:Ciii:Cifiii :^iiiiiii:CN:iiii rti?:?;ii:!;ii':;:iii ............................... r.... n................
:;'.>:::;:.. .. ~. :.. ~.:. o:;:;;;;.;:+:::r,>:c::::::::::~:;::>::ao::a:;:::a:.~:::.::>:::~;:~.;::::4:;;;:.;;;::::::::::.:;;;:::;>::a:;::::::.r ::.:>r:cr::;:;+:;:::::>:::;:::::>.. :::::::.:::r.;:::;y. :5~. .' r:::.::::::r: ;;>::' .>: ". ?:`•~.:::::;%Fi
ii: iii.i' ~": .i ': ':: :: :: ~~:'..:1::::ii::i}T::ii+iiii:2isisi':::.'::i::: iv:?:i'•iiii?:vv!L}i::::::}:::::::iii!~J`>.:~:j:::i:::jR:ii::::i::i:::i:`i::!.i:v:i:Y:: j:::::;: 'iF ~ : ::::: :. ::::::::.: ::.. ..':. ::i: .::. :::~ ~:~ '.~:+!i :ii~::::iri::`i
58

Spicebush
Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume
Fa><nily: Laurdeeae ~.,aurel Family
Habit: Deciduous understory shrub to 3 m tall, often forming colonies alongside
streams and in bottomlands.
Leaves: Alternate, obovate, thin, 6-14 cm long and 2-6 cm wide with acuminate
tips and entire margins. Leaf undersides are distinctly light green.
Flowers/fruit: Small yellow flowers which produce red elliptical drupes up to I
cm wide.
Habitat: Stream margins and rich moist woods, floodplain forests, mainly in tl~e
piedmont and mountains.
Field characteristics: Leaves and twigs are lemon-fragrant when crushed. Sterns
have distinctive lenticels.
__
S~itt~J~S ~pt~tttlt~tt Vlr~tlarid Pt~tnts of N.+C.
59

Swamp rose
R~~sa J~alustris Marsh.
Family; ;Rc~saceae '> , RQSe 1~a~nily
habit: Broad-leaved deciduous shrub with decurved thorn-like prickles. Grows
to 2 m tall and reproduces by runners, sometimes forming thick stands.
Leaves: Alternate, pinnately compound. Leaflets are elliptical and finely toothed.
Number varies from 5-9 leaflets, with usually 7. Leaflets are 1-5 cm long and 0.5
to 2 cm wide with the largest leaflets towards the tip of the leaf.
I~'lowers/fruit: Large, pink 5-petaled flowers are formed at the tips of branches,
later forming red 'rose hips'.
habitat: Marshes or wet shores of streams, lakes, and swamps throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Plant is easily recognized because of its typical rose
features (prickles, rose hips). Note the long stipule wrapped at the base of the
petiole. A similar species, Multiflora rose has small white fragrant flowers.
:.. .....
~0

Sweet pepperbush
Clethra alnifolia L.
Fa~mi~y: ~l~th~ta~ae White. Alder Fatuity
Habit: Broad-leaved deciduous shrub to 3 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical, obovate or oblanceolate leaves. Leaves are toothed
and approximately 8 cm long by 4 cm wide. The widest part of the leaf is
typically towards the tip.
Flowers/fruit: Fragrant small white 5-petaled flowers produced in racemes.
Habitat: Wet pine savannas, flatwoods, bays, pocosins in the coastal plain and
lower piedmont.
Field characteristics: Similar to Virginia willow, but note leaf shape of sweet
pepperbush which is widest past the middle, toward the leaf tip. The racemes
with empty seed capsules persist through the winter. Thick, light brown scales
cover the current year's stems.
f .~' -'
61

Ti-ti
Cyrilla racemiflora L.

Habit: Deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub or small tree to 8 m. tall, often
forming dense thickets.
Leaves: Alternate, usually narrow and obovate or elliptic. Variable in size, up to
10 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Racemes of white flowers from 5 to 15 cm long originate from the
previous season's growth. Flowers have 5 petals.
Habitat: Pocosins, swamps, pine flatwoods and streambanks in acidic, sandy or
peaty soils, chiefly in the coastal plain and sometimes found in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: Distinctive raised ridge under leaf scar. Racemes of dry
fruits persist through the winter. In fall, the leaves are often red or yellow.
>.<'
'<~>~<~„
>~.
«i~... .
62

Black haw
Vihurnutn pru-tifnliunt L.
F~nity. Capxi~oliace~e kf~tteysu~kle Family
Habit: Medium to large shrub.
heaves: Opposite leaves may be elliptical, ovate or obovate in shape. Leaves are
minutely serrated.
Flowers fruit: Flowers appear in the typical 'Flat-topped' inFlorescence (cyme)
and fruits are black drupes.
Habitat: Low woods throughout the piedmont, occasionally in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: As is characteristic of Viburnums, leaves are opposite and
buds are appressed or upright. Plant may leave small leaves that are produced
from side shoots (as pictured below).
% /~/:~=
T \
r'
SHRUBS Common Wetland Plants of N.C.
63

Possum haw, Southern wild raisin
Viburnum nudum L.
~~~~~,par'~~~~.::::.:<::;::::<:;:;::»:,::;;:>::>;.::..:;,:>:::..:.::::::::<>:< :::.::::::::....:...::::.:,:..;:.. ~~p~ysuc~Cl~aiy
Habit: Medium sized deciduous shrub up to 5 m tall.
Leaves: Opposite leaves are broad, elliptical or obovate in shape with entire or
slightly wavy margins. Leaves are shiny green, leathery and widest at the middle,
measuring 5-10 cm long and 2-6 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers appear in the typical 'flat-topped' inflorescence (cyme)
and fruits are compressed black drupes, about 1 cm long.
a :.fie a
~ :::
SH.~...

Southern arrowwood
Vihurnum dentatum L.
__
~'a-uily: Capnfo~iaceae Honeysuclde Family
Habit: Broad-leaved deciduous shrub to 3 m. Lower stems are characteristically
straight.
Leaves: Opposite, widely ovate leaves with acute ends. Leaves are 5-12 cm long
<<nd 4-10 cm wide with serrated edges.
Flowers/fruit: White flowers form flat-topped clusters at the end of branches.
Fruit is a blue-gray drupe.
Habitat: Swamps, forested wetlands.
Field characteristics: Similar to V. rafinesquianum (Downy arrowwood) but
Southern arrowwood has leaves that are less densely pubescent and has longer
petioles. Stipules at the leaf bases are absent in V. dentatum but present in V.
rafinesquianum. As the name (arrowwood) implies, the straight wood was
formerly used as arrows.
~HRI~~S Commpn Vttetland Plants rf N.C.
fS

Virginia-willow
Itea virginica L.
Family: Saxlfragaceae Saxifrage Family
Hahit: Deciduous, sprawling shrub to 2 m.
leaves: alternate, finely toothed, glabrous, elliptical leaves. Leaves oblong with
parallel sides and are 2-9 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. .
Flowers/fruit: Clusters of white 5-petaled flowers form a narrow raceme at the
end of branches. The 2 lobed beaked capsules persist.
Habitat: Low woods, swamps, alongside streams, throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Branches are often green above and burgundy on the
undersides. Stems have a white chambered pith.
d
<>
66

Wax-myrtle
M~~rica cerifera L.
Family: Myricaceae ......... :... ~ayb~rry F~~~ly
Habit: Evergreen shrub or small tree to 7 m.
Leaves: Alternate, narrowly elliptic, oblanceolate leaves with a few serrations
from the middle of leaves toward leaf tips. Leaves are thick and have yellow
resinous glands on both undersides and top surface of leaves.
Flowers/fruit: Male and female flowers are on separate shrubs. The male shrubs
produce catkins in the spring and the female shrubs have oval, white waxy fruits.
Habitat: Low ground, salt or brackish marshes, pine savannas, flatwoods,
swamps, uplands chiefly in the coastal plain and also in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: Asimilar species M. hetero~hylla has resinous dots on
leaf surface only. Leaves are aromatic when crushed. Berries are used for scents
;end candles.
SHRUBS Co~ucnan V~etland Plants of N.C.
~~

Bayberry
Myrica heterophylla Raf.
::<:~< : ~a~ .
SHRUB.. _ __ <: _:t~~n a ?~~.~ .. ... ....... . . ...
~x
dots on top and undersides of leaves.

WETLAND
STATUS
Arrow arum
Arrowhead; Duck-potato
Asiatic Dayflower
Blue flag, Southern
Cardinal Flower
Cattail, Common
Cattail, Narrow-leaved
Clearweed
Ferns
Cinnamon fern
Grape fern; Rattlesnake fern
Netted chainfern
Royal fern
Sensitive fern
Southern lady fern
Virginia chainfern
Glasswort, Perennial
False nettle
Jewelweed
Lizard's tail
Pickerelweed
Pokeberry; Pokeweed
Rose mallow; Marsh mallow
Seashore mallow
Smartweeds
Smartweed
Tear-thumb
Water-horehound
Peltandra virginica
Sagittaria spp.
Murdannia keisak
Iris virginica
Lobelia cardinalis
Typha latifolia
Typha angustifolia
Pilea pumila
Osmunda cinnamomea
Botrychium spp.
Woodwardia areolata
Osmunda regalis
Onoclea sensibilis
Athyrium filix femina ssp.
asplenioides
Woodwardia virginica
Salicornia virginica
Boehmeria cylindrica
Impatiens capensis
Saururus cernuus
Pontederia cordata
Phytolacca americana
Hibiscus moscheutos
Kosteletzkya virginica
Polygonum spp.
Polygonum spp.
Polygonum sagittatum
Lvcoous virQini

69

Arrow arum
Peltandra virginica (L.) Schott
Faml~y: Axaceae Arum Family
Habit: Emergent perennial herb with thick root stock. Plants about 0.5 m tall,
usually found in shallow water.
Leaves: Triangular, 3-nerved (or 3 main veins) on long stems. [_eaves 10-40 cm
long.
Flowers: Inconspicuous yellow flowers on a fleshy spadix (spike), surrounded by
a fleshy leaf-like structure, a spathe.
Habitat: Bogs, freshwater marshes and perimeters of lakes and ponds. Found
throughout NC, except in the northwest mountains.
Field characteristics: Triangular leaves with parallel side veins (radiating from
the sides of the main veins, rather than from one point as in Sa~~ittaria).
\ ,i
HERBS Cginmc~rE: V~~tland Plants of N.C.
~o

Arrowhead, Duck potato
Sagittaria spp.
.,
;.
Family: Alism~la.e~ae ::.. _..: '...Water Plantain family
Habit: Emergent or submersed perennial herb usually found in clumps, reaching
about 1 m in height.
Leaves: Triangular in some species, elliptical in others, up to 25 cm long.
Flowers: White flowers in whorls of three, occurring at 2-12 nodes on the
flowering stalk.
Habitat: Wet soil, marshes, stream sides and pond margins throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Triangular leaves (in many common species) with sharply
pointed tips. Veins radiating from the point of attachment to the petiole. The
petiole of a common species, Sagittaria latifolia (pictured below), is 5-sided in
cross-section. Compare with similar plants, Arrow arum and Pickerelweed.
..:: ..
71

Asiatic Dayflower
Murdannia keisak (Hassk.) Hand.-Maz.
...............................................................
FaiEn~y; ~otnmelinaceae >; ; ~3ayvwer or Splderwort family
Habit: Trailing herb forming dense mats. Stems often root at the nodes.
Leaves: Alternate, linear or lance shaped leaves, about 6 cm long and l cm wide.
The base of the leaves have closed tubular, hairy sheaths.
Flowers: Three-merous (contains 3 petals and 3 sepals) with lavender flowers.
Habitat: Margins of streams, ponds and marshes in the coastal plain and
piedmont of NC.
Field characteristics: Grass-like appearance with trailing stems. The clasping
hairy sheath formed at the leaf base helps to distinguish it from grasses which
look similar to Asiatic dayflower.
per

HERBS , Comrnvn_'Vt~'etland Plants of N.C.
72

Southern blue flag
Iris virginica L.

Field characteristics: Typical iris appearance with showy blue flowers.

73

Cardinal flower
Lobelia eardinalis L.
_. __ __
~'ami~~:Campanulaceae ::,: ~Iuebell~arnuly
Habit: Medium to tall perennial herb, O.S m to rarely 2 rn tall.
Leaves: Alternate, elliptical leaves which can be entire or serrated, 4-20 crn long
and 2-3 cm wide. When serrated, small and large teeth are alternated along the
edges.
Flowers: Spikes of 2-lipped intense red tubular flowers. Spikes are usually about
20 cm long, but can reach 50 cm in length.
Habitat: Fresh water marshes and swamps, river banks, ditches and stream sides
throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Showy red flowers blooming in mid-late summer. Basal
rosette persists through the winter.
~~
~r ~~
~,
_.
_. .
~~Z~S ; 'Common Vt~etland Plants of N.C.
74

Common or broad-leaved cattail
Typha latifolia L.
Family: 'Typh~ceae _ _ _ Cattail lr~amily
Hahit: 'Fall perennial herb, 2-3 m high.
heaves: light green leaves arising from the base and are sheathed at the base.
Strap shaped leaves are up to 2.4 cm wide. ,
Flowers: Brown, cylindrical terminal spike (female flower), familiar to most
people. When present, the male flower spike is positioned, just above the female
flower spike on the stem.
Habitat: Common in freshwater marshes, ditches and ponds. Found statewide,
although it is most common in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: Leaves are flat or slightly convex near the base. Common
cattail has wider leaves and a larger spike than narrow-leaved cattail. The male
flower spike is directly above female flower spike on common cattail, whereas
there is a space between the male and female spikes in the narrow leaved cattail.
;:;c,:::::~ ::::::::::::::: y:. ~:::::.: ~:::.:o::c; ~ ~::::::;~ rj.:;•;:.;;. ~:.:::::.: ~::::::.Y.:;;•.;; ::::::.:ti ~ ~:.~::.:::;n::::•r~ o;;;..;;::..x; :+:: ~ o;;:;:.,,;;..•;~.»:>;;:...::~.r:::ra~:::::::::::::::':~:`::::o; _..;~.
~ft3tAi'AT..
75

Narrow-leaved cattail
Typha angustifolia L.
~'$mlly: T`yphaeeae ': ...........: ` Cattail ~a~nly
Habit: Perennial herb 1-3 m tall.
Leaves: Dark green leaves which are strongly convex, up to 1 cm wide.
Flowers: Typical cattail spike with a space between the female and male Flower
spikes. The leaves stand taller than the flowering stem.
Habitat: Fresh (lakes, ponds, rivers) to brackish waters in the outer coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Acoastal plain species with darker, narrower leaves than
common cattail. The leaves tower above the flowering stem in narrow-leaved
cattail.
~~F.R~S Com~nan wetland Plilnts of N.C.
76

Clearweed
Pilea pumila (L.) Gray
~~.,,,~
.-~.__.
:- ,.
.,~f- ' r;
~:
..` 1
i,.,.c
77

Cinnamon fern
Osmunda cirm~un~~niea L.
__. _ _ __
Famll~: C7!smtuidaceae loyal fern iwamily
Habit: Medium to tall fern up to 1.5 m.
Leaves: Leaves arise from a clump at the base. Leaf blades are 35-70 cm long
and 13-25 cm wide. Leaflets are alternately arranged with brown fuzzy 'hairs' at
the base of leaflets.
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile fronds are narrower and contain furry cinnamon
colored stalks. These reproductive stalks appear in spring and soon wither.
Habitat: Swamps, marshes, ditches, streambanks. Common in the coastal plain
and mountains, but less frequent in the piedmont.
Field characteristics: Large fern. When fertile frond is present, it has a
distinctive cinnamon color.
t~
~~~-
r.
rL ~~~~
,.,w
3 ~. 1'-a ~
`mss ^Cy."'
a~i3~#;~..~~r~
,~,~ ~~~
•~
Fs ~~~~
enlarged leaflet
(pinny)
pinny
N~RBS Common Wetland plants of N.C.
~x

Grape fern, Rattlesnake fern
Botrychium spp.
Fami~yt i~ph~vg~as~~c~e :::<:::::":<> , .. ,~clcl~r's-tbngue l~a~.il,'y
Habit: Small fern, triangular in shape.
Leaves: The sterile leaf blade is dissected so that it appears lacy. The triangular
leaf measures about 10-20 cm long and 13-25 cm wide. The fertile portion of this
fern is presented on a long stalk.
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile structure (spores) are in a cumpound cluster, and
look like grapes.
Habitat: Rich woods and woodlands throughout the state.
Field characteristics: Small distinctive ferns with compact fronds. The
arrangement of sporangia are similar in appearance to a 'bunch of grapes' or
'rattles' on a rattlesnake, as the common names imply.
1-Ila~BS
79

Netted chainfern
Wovdwardia areoluta (L.) T. Moore
i~ amily~ B l~chnaceas '> Fern Famil~r
Habit: Medium fern up to 0.5 m in height, usually smaller. Reproduces by
underground rhizomes.
Leaves: Lobed leaflets arranged alternately along stalk. The edges of leaflets
contain minute serrations noticeable when viewed closely.
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile fronds are on separate stalks which are narrower
than the sterile fronds. Spores (sori) are located in parallel rows on the undersides
of fertile fronds as pictured in illustration on left.
Habitat: Acidic swamps and wet pine woods throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Similar in appearance to Sensitive fern, but Sensitive fern
has opposite leaflets and leaflet edges are without serrations. Netted chain fern
gets its name because of the chain-like appearance of sori on the fertile stalks.
__
HERBS ~4mmbtt V~t,~tland Ptants of N~.
xo

Royal fern
Osmunda regalis L.
~'~miiy. C~stnund~c ..... o~ lw~t ~.~~
Habit: Medium to large fern forming clumps. Royal ferns are usually about a
meter tall but may be as tall as 2 m.
Leaves: Leaf blade is large, measuring approximately 38-75 cm long and 25-50
cm wide. Leaf is twice pinnately divided with alternate leaflets, however the
leaflets are often positioned oppositely on the rachis. Leaflets usually number 5 to
1 1, and are light green, about 12 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile pinnae with a terminal branch-like panicle. The
light brown leaflets are spore-bearing.
Habitat: Moist woods, swamps and mazshes throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Large fern with leaves which aze twice divided.
..:.::::::::.
::
``''Ire
81

Sensitive fern
Onoclea sensibilis L.
Family: Dryapreridaceae Uryopt~s Ferri family '"
Habit: Low to medium fern almost reaching a meter in height, usually smaller.
Reproduces by underground rhizomes.
Leaves: Pinnately divided deciduous leaf blade. The leaf lobes are positioned
oppositely. Leaf margins are entire or lobed. Larger plants may have more
deeply lobed leaflets. (Note lower right illustration.)
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile fronds appear in the fall on separate stalks. The
fertile fronds change from green to brown and have a beaded appearance.
Habitat: Marshes, swamps, seeps, moist woodlands, and muddy ditches
throughout the state.
Field characteristics: Similar to Netted chainfern, but the leaf lobes of Netted
chain fern are alternately arranged. The fertile fronds are distinctive and resemble
rattles, when present. This is the only species within this genus, and is called
'sensitive' because this fern is sensitive to early frosts and beat.
~!
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--~
-- ` -- - J (//~ ~~ // i
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HL~tB~ 'Common Wetland Plants of.N.~.
82

Southern lady fern
Athyrium.filix femina ssp. aspleninides (Michx.) Hulten
~'am~~y ~ryoptertdaceae <: <.... ;::<::;:>. <:::<< ~t~pt~zx~ ~ ~?u
Habit: Medium light green fern to approximately 1 m in height. Grows from
rhizomes.
Leaves: Leaves are 40-100 cm long and 10-35 cm wide. Because of its finely
toothed leaflets, this fern is delicate and lacy in appearance. Leaflets are arranged
alternately on the leaf blade. Surfaces of fertile and sterile leaves are similar in
appearance.
Flowers: No flowers, but fertile fronds contain crescent-shaped sori on the
undersides of the leaves.
Habitat: Wet woods and swamps throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Attractive, lacy, light green fern. Leaflets and subleaflets
are positioned alternately on the rachis and petiole, respectively.
83

Virginia chainfern
Wnodw~ardia virginicn (L.) Sm.
Fam~iy: Blechrrace~~ Fern Faz~~ly
Habit: Medium fern reaching 0.5 m in height. Reproduces by underground
rhizomes.
Leaves: Compound leaves with alternate pinnae. Leaves are .i0-70 cm long and
15-30 cm wide. Leaf base (stipe) is dark, black-brown.
Flowers: No flowers, but sori are located on the undersides of pinnae. The double
row of sori on pinnae resemble a 'row of bricks.'
Habitat: Acidic soils and wet pine flats, mostly in the coastal plain. Grows well
in sunny locations and responds quickly after fire.
Field characteristics: Distinctive sori or 'row of bricks' along midrib on
underside of pinnae help to distinguish this fern from others. Fronds rise singly
from the ground; whereas most ferns have fronds in clumps.
""~~jt~
~'~~ M
J
to sori on the
dersides of pinnae
~i~R~S Cvr~tnvn :'Wetland Plants ©f ~€.~.
84

Perennial Glasswort
Salicornia virginica L.
<:
85

False nettle
Boehmerin cylindricn (L.) Sw.
Family: Urticacette Nettle Family
Habit: Perennial herb to 1.3 m.
Leaves: Opposite, sometimes sub-opposite, broad, lance shaped leaves with
toothed edges.
Flowers: Spikes of small spherical clusters borne in leaf axils.
Habitat: Common in low ground, swamps and wet woods throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Not irritating compared to the similar Stinging nettle.
Appears similar to clearweed, although flowers of false nettle are in clusters of
spikes compared to clearweed's branched panicles.

N~RBS Common. W etland Plants o~ ~.C.
x~

Jewelweed, Touch-me-not
Impatiens capensis Meerb.
~'an~i~y: ~a~s~~una~e~~ .::....... _ .. _ .......... '.'ouch zn.~-mot ~a~i
Habit: Medium to tall, bright green, succulent herb, reaching 1.5 m.
Leaves: Smooth, succulent stems contain alternately arranged ovate to elliptical
leaves produced on long petioles. Leaves are 3-10 cm long and 3-8 cm wide with
crenate edges.
Flowers: Orange, tubular 'bugle-like' flowers with brownish spots. The end of the
flowers have a curved spur.
Habitat: Stream and lake edges and moist woods throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Football-shaped seed capsules explode when ripe,
scattering seeds, hence the plant's common name, 'touch-me-not.' The watery
fluids of Jewelweed are thought to dilute the sap of poison ivy, making the rash
less severe. A similar species, 1. pallida, with yellow flowers occurs in wet woods
in the mountains.
..,.
~~~ : .......:::..::.:::......::.:.:....:...........:...:...:..:..........::..:.:.. ~~p ~t~~ a~ t~f ,...........
87

Lizard's Tail
Saururus cernuu,s L.
___ _ _ __
Famlx~: Sauraceae Liizard's Tail ~am~ly
Habit: Perennial herb to about 0.5 m in height. Lizard's tail reproduces by
underground rhizomes and therefore often forms dense stands.
Leaves: Alternate heart shaped leaves growing on zig-zagged stems. Leaf
venation is palmate and leaf edges are entire.
Flowers: White, graceful spikes which resemble lizard's tails.
Habitat: Swamps, wet woods and ditches throughout the coastal plain and
piedmont.
Field characteristics: Cordate leaves, distinctive white flowers produced during
early summer.
.~ZYh _~.
~i`j •. I Yfi
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it~~
i,' ;:
~~~tg5 ' Comman Wetland plants of I~,C.
RR

Pickerelweed
Pontederia cordata (L.)
~~~ .
,\ ; ;~
~ `~ ~ , ~
'~~~ ,
~` 1111' ~ .~ t~ ` ~'_ •,~ ~. .!
~~~ V
~; I
. i1 .
,,.~ .~ .
~E~i ~(.1: ~ i
::.....:....QYt~. ~ 1(i.A''
89

Pokeberry, Pokeweed
Phytolacca americnna L.
Family: Phytol~tceaceae ' ~'okeweed Family
Habit: Large, spreading perennial herb with purple stems, 1-3 m in height.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, elliptical or oval leaves, 10-30 cm long and 3-10 cm
wide.
Flowers: White flowers in racemes, originating opposite from the leaves. Fruit is
a purple berry up to 1 cm wide.
Habitat: Common in disturbed habitats and sandbars along rivers, throughout
NC.
Field characteristics: Purple branches are distinctive. Poisonous berries have
been used for rich purple dyes. Young leaves are edible as cooked greens,
however, older leaves are toxic.
HERBS Gomrtzon Wetland Plants of ~+i.C.
90

Rose or Marsh mallow
Hibiscus moscheutos L.
v.:
fruit
capsules
:~x::
91

Seashore mallow
Kosteletzk~~a vir~ginica (L.) Presl ex Gray
__
Farnlly: Malv~ceae Mallow ~at~uly
Habit: Medium height, 1-2 m with few to numerous branches.
Leaves: Alternate, coarsely toothed and roughly pubescent. Leaves are sagittate
or triangular in shape, with the bottom leaves the largest and upper leaves are
reduced.
Flowers/fruit: Pink, 5-petaled flower stemming from the axis of leaves. Flower
is 5-8 cm wide.
Habitat: Brackish to rarely fresh marshes, shores and ditches, swamps, wet
woodlands in the outer coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Similar to marsh mallow, although the flower of the
seashore mallow is smaller, pink and with a more pronounced pistil.
~ ~
~~.
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i __
„/~ 1
Y ~ _al\
N ~~~ ~~
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~~ `.,~ \ .
I~ -.~
HERBS Camm4n W,~tland Plants of N.C.
92

Smartweed
Polygonum spp.
~'ami1~. Pc~lygonaceae Smartweed 1~a~rily`.
Habit: Erect or somewhat trailing herb, rooting at the lower nodes.
Leaves: Alternate, and typically narrowly elliptical.
Flowers: Racemes in loose panicles, white to pink.
Habitat: Marshes, lakes and pond shores throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Members of this genus contain an ocrea or leaf sheath,
formed by stipules encircling the stem as illustrated below. The ocrea may be
densely hairy. The bitter taste of these leaves are said to 'smart,' hence the
common name, smartweed.

......................
..:.:::......:: _ .........±~~~.r~ island ~'~aat~.c~~`~><:'<<>
93

Tearthumb
P~~ly~gonum sagittntum L.
~'aml~y:' ~olygnnaceae Smartweed Family
Habit: Trailing perennial herb up to 2 m long with weak intertwining branches.
Leaves: Simple, entire, alternate, arrow-shaped leaves with acute tips. Leaf
-nidribs contain spines.
Flowers: White to pink, clustered on ends of stalks.
Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wet fields across NC.
Field characteristics: Square stem is heavily armed with unmistakable briars that
can tear flesh, hence the common name.

11-TL~.~3S Common 1~Ietlartd I?tants of N.~.
94

Water-horehound, Bugleweed
Lycopus virginicus L.
::
.. ~~~ ~~
Habit: Small to medium perennial herb, less than 1 m in height.
95

WETLAND
STATUS
Grasses
American Cupscale
Arthraxon, Joint head
Barnyard Grass
Cane, Giant
Cordgrass, Giant
Cordgrass, Salt Meadow
Cordgrass, Smooth
Cutgrass, Rice
Grass (creeping)
Reed, Common
River Oats
Saltgrass; Spikegrass
Wiregrass
Sedges
Beakrush
Bulrush
Sawgrass
Sedge; Carex
Spikerush
Rushes
Black needlerush
Rush
Sacciolepis striata
Arthraxon hispidus
Echinochloa crusgalli
Arundinaria gigantea
Spartina cynosuroides
Spartina patens
Spartina alterniflora
Leersia oryzoides
Microstegium vimineum
Phragmites australis
Chasmanthium latifolium
Distichlis spicata
Aristida stricta
Rhynchospora spp.
Scirpus spp.
Cladium mariscus jamaicense
Carex spp.
Eleocharis spp.
Juncus roemerianus
Juncus svv.
96

American cupscale
Sacciole~is striata (L.) Nash
__
Fam~fy, ~'c~aceae Grass Fancily
Habit: Medium height perennial aquatic or semi-aquatic grass with trailing stems
that root at the nodes. Often forms dense stands, 0._5 to 1 m tall.
Leaves: Leaf blades are flat and are marked with fine parallel lines. Leaf bases are
cordate and clasping. Upper leaves are often pointing downward.
Inflorescence: Inflorescence iselongate-cylindrical with spikelets on uneven length
pedicels. spikelets (pictured below) are distinctive with an inflated sac-like base.
Habitat: Freshwater marshes, edges of streams, lakes and ponds, swamps, and
ditches in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Fine stripes on the leaves and on the inflated `sacs' of the
inflorescence are distinctive.
~~~'
view of
spikelet
GI~:ASS~S CQmrican Wetland Plants cal` ~l.G.
97

Joint head, Arthraxon
Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino
~`~~t~. ~aa~ ....... ` ........... ..........} .... ...... ... .... _ ......... x~~~ ~~
98

Barnyard grass
Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv.
Family: ~'o~reas Gass I~'aily
Habit: Medium upright annual grass, with stout stems, up to over 1 m tall.
Frequently branching at the base.
Leaves: Long, tapering leaves, up to 0.5 m long and 1-2 cm wide.
Inflorescence: Compact terminal panicle, 10 to 25 cm long. Inflorescence appears
purplish with bristles and is erect or nodding. The spikelets are densely
concentrated on one side of the branches.
Ilabitat: Fresh marshes, slightly brackish marshes, swamps, moist open areas and
waste places.
Field characteristics: Distinctive, long bristles make the inflorescence appear
`hairy.' Barnyard grass is commonly planted on wildlife refuges as the seeds are
utilized by waterfowl and other birds.
G17ASS1r5 Common 1~Vetland Plant. of N.C.
99

Giant cane
Arundinaria Rigantea (Walt.) Muhl.
.. <:.
Gass pit
~'am1~y: Poaceae ~ ..
habit: Tall, thick, woody herb, usually 1-3 m but may reach 8 m in height. This
grass forms extensive colonies since it reproduces by rhizomes.
heaves: Alternate leaves with flat acuminate blades. Leaf blades are 15-25 cm long
and 2-4 cm wide with rounded bases.
Inflorescence: Solitary grass-like spikelets with brown grai~~s. Flowers are seldom
seen; flowers produced primarily in response to fire.
Habitat: Low woods, savannas and pine flats throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Resembles the non-native Chinese bamboo. Culms were
previously used for fishing poles, pipe stems, baskets and mats.
:<>
'y:;:'
100

Giant cordgrass
S~nrtina c~~nosuroicles (L.) Roth
................................. .
........................ :....... .
.F~ml~y. Pc>aceas Gxass !~amliy
Habit: Tall, stout, upright perennial grass growing in extensive stands reaching 2-3
m; spreading by elongated rhizomes.
heaves: Elongated, linear tapering leaf blades, up [0 70 cm long and 1 to 2.S cm
wide with scabrous margins. Stems are thick, round and hollow.
Inflorescence: An open, terminal panicle with many spikes ascending and
spreading. Spikelets are usually 10-12 cm long.
Habitat: Brackish marshes along the outer coastal plain or intermixed in marshes
dominated by black needlerush.
Field characteristics: Giant cordgrass resembles P/rra~~n~ites and occupies much of
the same habitat. Phrn~mites has a denser inflorescence and stiff, straight leaf
blades.

5\
..
G~.AS~ES Com:n~on Wetland plants of N.C.
~~~~

Salt meadow cordgrass, Salt meadow hay
Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl.
....: ~ ~.
_, rasp ~'
Habit: Fairly low to medium height graceful, meadow-like grass, up to a meter tall.
Spreading by elongated rhizomes.
Leaves: Narrow, linear leaf blades are rolled inward and are less than 3 mm wide
and 35 cm long. Stems are wiry and hollow.
Inflorescence: Open, terminal panicle with 3 to 6 alternately arranged spikes which
contain densely packed spikelets, 7-12 mm long.
Habitat: Brackish marshes, low sand dunes and sand flats along the outer coastal
plain. Salt meadow hay grows in vast expanses above the high tide line.
li'ield characteristics: This grass may spread by runners in straight lines or may
form tufted growths. Salt meadow hay has wiry stems whereas other species of
Spartina have thick stems.
,., .
~.~~5.::...::... _ ..............: fl~nc~.'~~t~anc~ ifs ~~` .~* ........
102

Smooth cordgrass
Snartina alterniflora Loisel.
Family: ~'omceae brass I~~mily
Habit: Medium to tall (0.5 to 2.5 m) upright perennial grass. Contains soft spongy
culms which may be a centimeter thick at the base. Plants may be shorter and
stunted on higher ground.
Leaves: Long grass-like blades are flat and tapering to a sharp point. Leaves are
about 1 cm wide and up to 40 cm long and are typically smooth or nearly so.
Inflorescence: Terminal inflorescence is compact so it appears cylindrical.
Inflorescence is about 10-30 cm long with 5-30 alternately arranged spikelets.
Habitat: Salt or brackish marshes along the outer coast, frequently growing in
water and forming dense stands to the exclusion of nearly all other species.
Field characteristics: Smooth cordgrass is the most abundant and ecologically
significant large plant in brackish or salt marshes as it supplies detritus to the
estuaries. Salt marshes are comprised almost solely of this species.
GLASSES Cor~r>EZOri Wetland Plants of l~.C.
to3

Rice cutgrass
Leersia oryzoides (L.) Sw.
Habit: Medium to tall (1 to 1.5 m) perennial grass with weak, slender culms.
Leaves: Yellowish-green leaves, up to 1 cm wide and 20 cm long with toothed leaf
margins.
Inflorescence: Terminal inflorescence is loosely branching and spreading, 10 to 20
cm long. Elliptical spikelets occur on wavy or undulating branches of the panicle.
Habitat: Widespread in wet areas, fresh water marshes, wet pastures and ditches.
Tolerates slightly brackish waters.
:.~~:.::.:>:::.>::::::~.:::::::::::<::.:: . ....... ......... .........::::.~~ W~t.d..~~... .......:
104

Microstegium, Creeping grass
Micrvstegium vimineunc (Trin.) A. Camus
Field characteristics: Multiple spikelets are distinctive. May be confused with
Arthraxvn hi,spidu,s, although leaves are different. Many bottomlands are now
dominated by this aggressive grass.
___ __
G~.ASS~S Common 'Wetland plants of N.C.
1(l5

Common reed
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.
~.~~
Fey. €~a~~e
Habit: Tall, perennial grass with upright culms, 2-4 m tall, forming dense and
exclusive stands from creeping rhizomes.
Leaves: Broad, flat, linear blades, 1-5 cm wide and 15-40 cm long. Leaves are 2-
ranked or arranged in 2 planes on the stems. Stems are round, thick and hollow.
Inflorescence: Terminal inflorescence is a densely branched panicle, 15-45 cm long
with tan to purplish (when young) long silky hairs. Spikelets contain several
flowers with long silky hairs below each flower.
Habitat: Fresh, brackish and salt marshes, banks of lakes and streams. Phragmites
is worldwide in distribution and tolerates varying salinities from freshwater to
saltwater.
Field characteristics: Large reed with silky, dense inflorescence. Stems were
formerly used by southwest Indians for arrow shafts, mats and nets. Phragmites is
derived from the Greek word, `phragma' which refers to its fence-like growth. This
noxious weed has spread into many coastal marshes along the Atlantic coast.

106

River oats, Spikegrass
Chnsnu~nthium latifolium (Michx.) Yates
~'arnUy I'4aceae Grass Family
Habit: Tall, colonial grass, spreading by rhizomes. Plant is unbranched with stems
0.6 to 1.5 m tall.
Leaves: Grass-like leaf blades, 2 cm wide.
Inflorescence: Flowering portion with drooping branches contains spikelets, which
resemble sea oats.
Habitat: Stream and river banks, low woods and shaded slopes throughout the
state.
Field characteristics: Very similar in appearance to the common coastal sea oats.

~~
GRASSES GamErnor~ Vtret~nd Plants of l'+l.C.
107

Saltgrass, Spikegrass
Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene
~~~ny~ oaa~ ............. ._ .. _....................... r~ ~.
Habit: Short wiry grass 10-40 cm tall. Forms dense colonies spreading by stout
rhizomes Runners on the ground level are sometimes evident.
Leaves: Numerous thin, linear leaves occur at 45 degree angles to the stem Leaves
are distinctly 2-ranked or arranged in one plane on opposite sides of the stiff,
hollow stem. Leaves contain overlapping sheaths and the edges of leaves are rolled
inward.
Inflorescence: Terminal inflorescence is a light green panicle, 1 to 6 cm long.
Male and female flowers occur on separate plants with small spikelets of 5-9
flowers.
Habitat: Salt marshes or brackish marshes, along seashores, forming dense
colonies. Can tolerate salinities exceeding full strength seawater.
Field characteristics: Angles of leaves are distinctive forming a `v' against the
stem. Saltgrass is named from the Greek word, `distichos' meaning leaves are 2-
ranked. Saltgrass is commonly found with Spartina patens, but it is usually
"hidden" among the taller grasses with which it grows.
,~ , ; :...
:.:..::.:..;::.::: < ..::...:::::::::.>.:::::: ...~ ~~~and::~~......:.::...a~.t ...:.:..:..:....
;cif .::.:::;:<:;:>::<::<>::
108

Wiregrass, Pinelawn three awn
Aristida stricta Michx.
.:...»»:.:...
<.
$iin~ r ~'ae
Grass family
Habit: Medium height perennial grass forming graceful tufts or clumps, 0.5 to 1 m
tall.
Leaves: Long, narrow leaf blades rolled inward and mostly originating from the
base. Dense leaf hairs are evident without unrolling the blade.
Inflorescence: Loosely arranged spikelets in a slender panicle, up to 30 cm long.
Flowers have 3 distinctive awns or bristles about 1 cm long.
Habitat: Wiregrass tolerates a wide range of moisture including well drained hills,
wet pine savannas and flatwoods, especially where periodically burned. Mainly
found in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Easy to distinguish when in flower since it's restricted to wet
pine flats and related habitat. This species only flowers after its habitat has been
burned.
l~~
~~
L
;~}
~I ,~
i
GRASSES Gamxnar~ Wetland Plariis of N.C.
~o~

Beakrush
Rhynchospora spp.
.:::::.::: .:'L~d ::::.:::..::................................................
110

Bulrush
Scirpus spp.
Family, Cyperaceae Sedge family
Habit: Medium to tall annual or perennial Herbaceous sedge, often forming dense
colonies.
heaves: Thin, linear leaves on a cylindrical or triangular stern
Inflorescence: Inflorescence is highly variable.
Habitat: Swamps, marshes, wet meadows and banks of ditches.
Field characteristics: One of the most common species of this genus, S. c~~perin-~s
(Wool grass), has many drooping branches with brownish flowering spikelets.
Another common species, S. validus (Soft stem bulrush), has cylindrical spongy
stems.
.<
-c
Scirpus validus
(Soft stem bulrush)
__
- _ _.
S~bG~.S ' 'Common Wetland Plants oi' N.C.
(Wool grass)

Sawgrass
Cladium mariscus jamaicense (Crantz) Kukenth.

Habit: Tall, coarse perennial sedge up to 3 m growing in extensive stands from
stout rhizomes. Stem is slightly triangular.
Leaves: Linear tapering leaves, about a meter long and one centimeter wide with
spiny, saw-toothed margins. Leaves are stiff, folded at the midrib and becoming
triangular at the tip.
Inflorescence: Long (0.5 m) inflorescence is formed by clusters of spikelets
occurring at the end of drooping branches.
Habitat: Brackish marshes, ditches and shores in the outer coastal plain. May
form dense monotypic stands in slightly brackish waters. May occur either in
standing water or on drier ground in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Leaf margins feel unmistakably like a saw; walking through
a sawgrass marsh can be a painful experience.
>:.::. f~::ats
112

Carex or sedge
Carex spp.
,:.
~am~y: +Cyperaceae ' ..... Sedge family
Habit: Medium to tall grass-like sedge, ranging in height from 15 to 120 cm.
Sedges may spread by rhizomes but most commonly reproduce by seed and form
clumps. Stems are solid and triangular.
Leaves: Thin, linear leaf blades have a keel at the midrib. Leaves are typically 3
ranked and often overtop the inflorescence.
Inflorescence: Inflorescence contains male and female Flowers crowded in
separate cylindrical clusters on the same plant.
Habitat: The genus, Carex ,contains the most members of the sedge family and is
the largest single genus in North Carolina. Carex spp. are found in standing water
or in wet soils. '
Field characteristics: Leaf blades are `v' shaped with distinctive keels.
,~;
.,;
,~
_.
'S) ;DES Cvm~vn ~V~t~and Plari#s of ~.C
113

Spikerush
Eleocharis spp.
__
>::>:::::: ' ' ... ~edgeazrt~'~
Habit: Annual or perennial glabrous sedge with a single spikelet or head formed on
the end of a stem. Perennial forms reproduce by runners or stolons and annuals
form dense clumps, reproducing by seed. Culms are square, triangular or rounded.
Leaves: Leaves are reduced to bladeless sheaths originating at the base of the stem.
Inflorescence: Inflorescence is a solitary spikelet appearing at the end of a stem.
Scales of the spikelet are usually spirally arranged.
Habitat: All spikerushes grow in wet areas around the edges of ponds, lakes or wet
meadows.
Field characteristics: The terminal cone-like head helps in recognition of members
of this genus. However, this characteristic is not readily evident in E. baldwinii, a
shoreline or submersed plant.
114

Black needlerush
Juncus rnemerianus Scheele.
F~miXy Juncaceae Rush Iµami.Iy
Habit: Perennial rush with hollow, needle-like stems usually to 1 m tall. Black
needle rush spreads by rhizomes and appears as dense and extensive stands of
grayish or reddish-brown stiff needles.
Leaves: Leaf blades are absent but leaf sheaths arise from near the apex of the stern
The stem tip is very sharp and can pierce flesh.
Inflorescence: Compound panicle up to 12 cm long.
Habitat: Brackish marshes and tidal flats in the lower coastal plain. Black
needlerush is found in the upper intertidal zone where it is inundated by saltwater
during storm tides.
Field characteristics: Rigid, reddish, gray or brown needles forming extensive
stands, particularly in the northern outer coastal plain of NC. Black needlerush
tolerates a wide range of salinity. This is the most common species in brackish
waters. Marshes dominated by this rush may cover hundreds of acres.
~4
~EI3~iES , . C~mm~rt V~eiand Plants of N.tw,
115

Rush
Juncus spp.
>:.;: ,:.:;::.:::::<:: Mush ~~
Habit: Annual or perennial (mostly perennial and reproduce by rhizomes) grass-
like rushes of wet areas, forming dense clumps. Upright, cylindrical, hollow,
glabrous stems are usually pale or bright green and needle-like.
Leaves: In some species, leaf blades are absent but brownish-red leaf sheaths that
open vertically are found near the base of the stems. Needle-like stems are
cylindrical or flattened.
Inflorescence: The inflorescence contains a panicle of numerous small flowers on
pedicels of varying lengths. A bract which is indistinguishable from other stem
tips, occurs above the flowering stems.
Habitat: Forms large clumps along the edges of ponds, lakes, marshes and wet
fields.
Field characteristics: Clumps of needle-like stems with the inflorescence emerging
from near the top of the needle-like stem Two common species of rush that are
fairly widespread throughout NC include J. effusus and J. coriaceus. J. effusus is
the most characteristic rush inland and may form marshes many acres in size.

116

~+ 1~~~ WETLAND
STATUS
Climbing hempweed Mikania scandens FACW+
Crossvine Bignonia capreolata i~AC
Grape Vitis spp. FACW~ - UPL
Ground-nut Apios americana FACW
Greenbriers
Greenbrier Smilax spp. ©BL - FACC~
Greenbrier, Laurel-leaved Smilax laurifolia FACW+
Greenbrier; Saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox FAC
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans 'FAC
Rattan vine Berchemia scandens FACW
Trumpet creeper Campsis radicans FAC
Vir inia cree er Parthenocissus uin ue olia l~AC
117

Climbing hempweed
Mikania scandens (L.) Willd.
F$naE~y; A~teraceae Cvmpaste or Aster F~untly ',
Habit: Deciduous, climbing, herbaceous vine, often blanketing nearby vegetation.
Leaves: Opposite, cordate or triangular leaves with long petioles. Leaves 3-13 cm
long with 3 main distinctive veins.
Flowers/fruit: White flowers in heads originating in axil of leaves.
Habitat: Perimeter of lakes, swamps, wet woodlands, freshwater marshes, stream
banks in the coastal plain and piedmont of NC.
~IIS . ~ommnn Wetland Plattt~ of N.C.
118
Field characteristics: Attractive, aggressive herbaceous vine which climbs
clockwise and upward. Stems are 4-sided.

Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata L.
....
Habit: Climbing woody semi-evergreen vine, which can reach great heights,
climbing by branched tendrils.
Leaves: Pairs of opposite leaflets, oblong or elongate-cordate up to 15 cm long and
2-7 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Showy, yellow and orange/red tubular flowers in early spring,
forming fruit which is a long flattened bean-like capsule up to 15 cm long.
Habitat: Swamps, moist woods, bottomlands and bay forests; chiefly in the coastal
plain and piedmont, infrequent in the mountains.
Field characteristics: Distinctive paired leaves. When severed, the large vines of
this species exhibit a large cross as the name implies.
. .......:..:.:.:.:.............
.................
::.>:.:
::<:..
~~
>`>>>
119

Grape
Vitis spp.
~'u~n~y,'~?'tt~ae .... ' pe ' y
Gra Fanul
Habit: Deciduous, climbing woody vine with tendrils opposite the leaves, often
climbing into the canopies of trees.
Leaves: Alternate, cordate or 3 to 7 lobed and toothed.
Flowers/fruit: Small flowers in panicles, the fruit an edible grape (although acidic
in some species).
Habitat: Low woods, floodplains, stream banks, bottomlands throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Climbing vine with cordate or lobed leaves. Older vines
Dave shredded bark.
_. _
_._ ___ _.
VCI~.~S Comrnan'~Vetland Plants of N.C.
120

Ground-nut
Apios americana Medic.

121

Greenbrier, catbrier
Smilax spp.
.................................................... .
__
.Fame: Lilia~eae Daly family
Habit: Climbing evergreen or deciduous, woody vine with green stems and tendrils.
Also contains unmistakable thorns.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, often cordate or oval leaves with 3-S main parallel veins.
Flowers/fruit: Flowers in umbels. Fruits dark blue-black or red depending on the
species.
Habitat: Wet woods, uplands, throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Often mistaken for'green barbed wire' when encountered in
the field. Some species may form impenetrable thickets.
VII~I~S Common Wetland Plants of N.O.
122

Laurel-leaved greenbrier, bamboo vine
Smilax laurifolia L.
:.:::::..::..::.:.:....::.
::>::::::<::<::::::::::::<>::::>::::<>:::::::<:::::~:. <::::::.:<::::::>>< :................:..................... ~a~o:::.::::~t..........
123

Saw greenbrier, bullbrier
Smilax bona-nox L.
__ _ _ .. __
__ _ _ _...
~'aiiy. ~.al~aceae . ' Lily Family
Habit: Semi-evergreen, climbing, woody vine with paired tendrils. Stem is slightly
square.
Leaves: Alternate, leathery cordate leaves with small spines around leaf edges.
Leaves 10 cm long and 8 cm wide.
Flowers/fruit: Small flowers in umbels, producing black spherical berries in
umbels.
Habitat: Upland woods, floodplains, bay forests, pine flats and in cutover areas.
Found throughout the state, but most commonly in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Attractive cordate or hastate leaves, often mottled and
rimmed with bristles.
V~ ~o~nmon Wetland Plants of tsl.~.
124

Poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze
~~um~1y An~cardtaceae :: '' > .; ..:, . ~hevc# ar ~hma~l~aml
Habit: Deciduous high climbing woody vine with distinctive, hairy, aerial roots.
May take on a shrubby growth form of slender unbranched stems up to 1 m tall.
Leaves: Alternate, shiny, thin leaves with 3 ovate (sometimes toothed) leaflets with
pointed ends. Leaves are variable but end leaflet is on a long stalk.
Flowers/fruit: Panicles of white, nondescript, flowers later produce white berry-
like drupe.
Habitat: Swamps, wetlands, dry uplands, throughout NC.
Field characteristics: 'Leaves of three, let them be,' is a good way to remember this
plant, which may cause a severe rash in people allergic to poison ivy. Hairy vines
and upright branch tips are helpful in identifying this species when it has lost its
leaves.
'~~`~~` .:......... _ ........ ....... ............. _ i~~.c€..'~ar~.d and a-~ ~.C..........
125

Rattan vine, Supple-jack
Berchemia scandens (Hill) K. Koch
F$mily: ~ihamnaceae ~uckihorn family
Habit: Deciduous, climbing, flexible woody vine.
Leaves: Alternate, ovate or elliptical, shiny entire leaves, 4-8 cm long and 3 cm
wide. Leaf venation is strikingly parallel with 10 or more veins on each leaf side.
Flowers/fruit: Small inconspicuous flowers in panicles. Fruit is an elliptical black
drupe, 5-7 mm long.
Habitat: Flood plain forests, moist sandy woods, stream banks, flat woods,
bottomlands, rich woodlands, mainly in the coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Smooth, reddish-brown stems, useful in basketry.
__
VTI?S ' Coon V~etiand Plaints of N.C.
126

Trumpet creeper, Cow-itch vine
Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. ex Bureau
..... _-......'~'?~t~~ t~eeper a~i~~r
~`ant~~ ~gni~~eae .:.....:.. .
Habit: Deciduous, climbing or sprawling trailing woody vine. Trumpet creeper
climbs via aerial roots in double rows on stems and does not have tendrils.
Leaves: Opposite, pinnately compound leaves with 7-11 toothed leaflets, usually up
to 4-8 cm long. Leaf is up to 30 cm long.
Flowers/fruit: Terminal cluster of 2-9 showy red 'trumpet' flowers with 5 lobes at
the end of the tube later forming large seed pods.
Habitat: Forested wetlands, moist uplands, old fields, fence rows, waste places,
throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Often called the 'fence post vine' as it can be spotted along
roadsides, sprawling over fence posts. Elongated seed pods and aerial roots are
distinctive.
a
. _. ' ..y
........ ...... ......
127

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.
~m~~ °~'ilac~ae Gripe Family
Habit: Deciduous, climbing or trailing supple woody vine with small cupped 'feet'
which adhere to surfaces.
Leaves: Alternate, palmately compound with 5 oval toothed leaflets. Leaflets are
5-15 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Leaves are strikingly reddish-purple in autumn.
Flowers/fruit: Small flowers in cymes, later producing blue berries.
Habitat: Swamps, bottomlands, rich upland woods, throughout NC.
Field characteristics: Tendrils with suction cups, 5 compound leaves. Young
growth of Virginia creeper may have only 3 leaflets and resemble poison ivy.
~~ .: ': ' ...... Comrncm'~Vetland Plants of K.C.
128

WETLAND
STATUS
~~_
Bladderwort
Common duckweed
Giant duckweed
Spatterdock; Cow lily
Water lily, Fragrant
Water lotus
Water meal
Utricularia spp.
Lemma spp.
Spirodela spp.
Nuphar lutea
Nymphaea odorata
Nelumbo lutea
Wol~a spp.
.~..
'.. ^'/ •
129

Bladderwort
Utricularia spp.
_ _ _ _ _ __
family; L.entibhlariaceae _ T~Iadderwort Family
Habit: Rootless, herbaceous aquatic plant (though a few are terrestrial) cuntaining
floating bladders, sometimes forming mats. Stems are thin and dendritically
branched.
Leaves: Inconspicuous linear leaves, usually alternate, but may be whorled or
opposite.
Flowers: Long flowering stem with 1-20 yellow, white or purple Flowers which
grow above the water's surface. Flower is two lipped with the upper lip 2-lobed and
the lower lip 3-lobed.
Habitat: Aquatic plants floating in water of ponds, lakes, shallow pools. Some
species are found statewide but the majority of the species are restricted to the
coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Distinctive bladders and thinly dissected leaves help this
plant to float upright for photosynthesis. The bladders also trap and consume small
bits of plankton for nourishment.
AQUATIC HERS
Common Wetland Plants o~ N.~.
130 _

Common duckweed
Lentna spp.
. 1:3uckweecl dam;~.
:: :.....::.......:....::...::..:.:::..:..:.:::....:....: _ :.:::....:.........: Y
Habit: Small, flattened, floating aquatic plant occurring on the water's surface.
Leaves: Leaves and stems are reduced and are referred to as 'fronds' which look like
small leaves, 2-6 mm long. Fronds of Lemna are light green with a middle ridge
and contain 1 root per frond.
Flowers: Inconspicuous flowers are produced in a pouch or spathe.
Habitat: Swamps, ponds, lakes and sluggish creeks in the coastal plain and
piedmont. Occasionally occur in the mountains.
Field characteristics: The single root per frond helps to distinguish Lemna from
similar types of duckweed.
=.~su `'~
.r i f~;
r,
1'}v r : rl~
r,
,.,.
`i'}~~ ~;
;:.:
~f;~~~TIC II~.B .:: _ __ .,:: >:: ~~~-.:and anti ........_.:.
131

Giant duckweed
Spiroctela spp.
.......... ......................
~'a~ni~~: Lemnaceae Duckweed Family
Habit: Small, flattened floating aquatic plant occurring on the water's surface
.Snirodela is the largest of the duckweeds.
Leaves: Leaves and stems are reduced to leaf-like structures or fronds which are 2-
8 mm long or wide. Fronds are green on the top surface and purplish below with 2
or more roots per frond.
Flowers: Inconspicuous flowers are allegedly produced in pouches, but flowers are
not seen in NC. During the winter, reproduction occurs by turions which sink to
bottom waters. During spring, turions germinate, producing more plants.
Habitat: Lakes, ponds and sluggish streams in the coastal plain or piedmont. As
with other duckweeds, this plant is wind driven.
Field characteristics: Usually found with other members of the duckweed family,
Spirodela is recognized by having several roots per frond. An easy way to
remember this is that the 'S' in St~irodela stands for'several' roots while the 'L' in
Lemna refers to 'lone' root.
,;::..
tM-..... ~~~_,
;~..r.
;;:
-.~M~
.Y~~ ~: ~~
'r:
.. ...
~~.:' rr
::r~~
_.J ~~
'''q- :~i
' ~.J ~•,
..
..
At~UAT~~ Hl/RBS,; ~nmtnbtt ~~tiand Pl~nt~ of N.~.
132

Spatterdock, Cow lily
Nuphar lutes (L.) Sm.
....................................
i,1:;:;~~1~~Y ~~na~,~i ha~~M.:,::::.~ ::::::::::::::.isi: n :::::::.:::::::n:::::::::::.::.:.::::::n:::::n:::.:::::..::........................... ~' ...............~
Habit: Emersed, floating or submersed aquatic plant growing from a spongy
rhizome.
Leaves: Leaves are ovate or cordate with split leaf bases. Leaf veins originate from
main central vein and extend to the outer edge of leaf. Leaves are about 30 cm long
and 25 cm wide.
Flowers: Spherical yellow flower with b light green sepals and numerous petals.
Habitat: Lakes, ponds, swamps and streams throughout the state, but
predominantly in the southern coastal plain.
Field characteristics: Cordate leaves with prominent midvein and distinctive
spherical yellow flower. In flowing coastal waters, leaves are 3 times as long as
wide and margins are undulate or rippled. Intermediates with varying length to
width ratios also occur.
a _ ~ :. ..
133

Fragrant water lily
N~~mphaea odorata (Ait.)
......................................................
~'at~~Uy; N'ytnphaceae ;, Water lily Family
Habit: Floating leaved aquatic plant with long leaf stalks arising from the rhizome.
Leaves: Circular leaves are split and have pointed lobes. Leaves are green on the
surface and purplish on the undersides. Leaves to about 25 cm wide and long.
Flowers: White or pinkish fragrant flower with 25 or more ovate petals. Flower has
4 green sepals.
Habitat: Lakes, ponds and slow streams throughout the state.
Field characteristics: Split leaf with reddish undersides and fragrant flower when
in bloom. A similar plant, Spatterdock or Cow lily, has rounded or cordate leaf
bases and green undersides.
L i;;::~ ~~,, ,• ,~: ti ,
~~cV))~
- :.; -:~:
• /
• ,/
/i
.,, ., 1
•,y..1• .• .~.~ ~
AQUATIC I~RBS Comt~~n V~etland PlantB of N.C.
134

Water lotus
Nelumho lutea Willd.
elu _ ....
:..:'af+~~ ~€~ ate;
~'~m~I ; N~ rnbanaceae .::>>';::<:>><:>`:«~>>::< ::::................<:::::><...
Habit: Emersed aquatic plant with large rounded leaves which extend above the
surface of the water. Plant has spongy rhizomes from which the leaves and flowers
arise.
Leaves: Large round, bluish-green leaves, 20-70 cm wide with concave centers.
Early leaves float on the surface later becoming suspended above the water as the
petiole continues to grow.
Flowers: Attractive, pale yellow flower can be as large as the leaves. Seed pods are
woody and persist and are often used ornamentally.
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, marshes and slow streams.
Field characteristics: Large leaves are not split as with other water lilies. Seed
pods persist and are distinctive. A milky substance is found in all parts of water
lotus.
~,Ai'A'~C ~~......... '.... .......... ....... .......... '~rf~p!~ ~~~~nd ~tt~ ~f.......
135

Water meal
Wnl~a spp.
~'um~y: ~.emnaceae I~~ckweed family
Habit: Miniscule, rootless aquatic plant floating on the water's surface or slightly
below the surface.
Leaves: Globular, elliptical (or footprint shaped) green frond 0.5 to 1.5 mm long or
wide.
Flowers: Inconspicuous flowers are produced in a pouch or spathe on the underside
of the plant. Most reproduction occurs vegetatively and flowering in Wol~a is rare.
Habitat: Similar to duckweeds, Wnlffa occurs in ditches, marshes, lakes, ponds
and sluggish streams, primarily in the coastal plain, sometimes found in the
piedmont.
Field characteristics: Rootless wind driven plant looks like green 'grits.' Water
meal is the smallest vascular plant known. It thrives in the presence of large
amounts of nitrogenous matter.
`~ ~~
°~ ,;~
___
__ __
Af,~t3ATI~ HERBS G4mmpn Wetland Plants of N.~.
136

Appendices

~:::.: v: x::::.:. ~: v:i•iiiiiiii:iii:Sri:Pi::..:...i}iii::: ' .: i:.ii~.....:.::.i: i^::'~::::i:Y::S:ii:::::ii:(~iiY'i:i.... .; .. _ ::: iiii::i ~: ii:i%: ~. ~:~ ::'::i::i:::i. ~:::i ~;:iij :~:i:::::::y::. :'',::;:i ;i::..~::i is?i'::~'~ '':::.: :..':::::~, :: .,,::1!i(i i:::i:'::~i}::iii?
wet flats (subtypes are listed below)
loblolly pine subtypes
Loblolly pine Pinus taeda
Red maple Acer rubrum
Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
Swamp black gum Nyssa biflora
Horse sugar Symplocos tinctoria
Hollies Ilex spp.
Giant cane Arundinaria gigantea
longleaf pine subtypes
Longleaf pine Pinus palustris
Pond pine Pinus serotina
Hollies Ilex spp.
Wiregrass Aristida stricta
Beakrush Rhynchospora spp.
Giant cane Anrndinaria gigantea
non-pine subtypes
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Swamp black gum Nyssa hiflora
Cherrybark oak Quercus pagoda
Laurel oak Quercus laurifolia
Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii
Red maple Acer rubrum
Sweetgum Liquidambar sryraciflua
Loblolly pine Pinus taeda
Sweet pepperbush Clethra alnifolia
Giant cane Arundinaria gigantea
Netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica
Sedge; Carex Carex spp.
Laurel-leafed greenbriar Smilax laurifolia
Sphagnum moss Sphagnum spp.
pocosins
Pond pine Pinus serotina
Sweet bay Magnolia virginiana
Loblolly bay Gordonia lasianthus
Red bay Persea borbonia
Fetterbush Lyonia lucida
Ti-ti Cyrilla racemiflora
Hollies Ilex spp.
Laurel-leafed greenbriar Smilax laurifolia
ephemeral wetlands
Plants vary depending on location and the length of inundation. Herbaceous plants
will be absent during prolonged inundation. Trees or shrubs may be scattered throughout
the wetland or only present on the fringes of the wetland.
137

Appendix 1 Dominant Plants f'ron`t: Major .Wetland Types
seeps
Red maple Acer rrrhrrrm
Swccigum Liquidamhar st}•raci~lun (piedmont)
Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanicct (piedmont)
Willow oak Quercus phellos (piedmont)
Pond pine Pious serotinn (sandhills, inner coastal
plain)
Sweet bay Magnolia virginiann (sandhills, inner
coastal plain)
Sweet pepperhush Clethra alnifnlia (sandhills, inner
coastal plain)
Fetterhush Lyonia lucida (sandhills, inner coastal
plain)
Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea
Royal fern Osmundu regalis (piedmont)
Jewelweed Impatiens capen.cis (piedmont)
mountain bogs
Red maple Acer rubrum
Tag alder Alnus serrulata
Swamp rose Rosa palu.ctri.c
Rhododendrons Rhododendron spp.
Sphagnum moss Sphagnum spp.
Scdgc; Carcx Carex spp.
Cinnamon fern O,cmunda cinnamomea
Royal fern Osmunda regalis
Sensitive fern Onoclen sensibili.c
bog forests
Eastern hemlock Tsuga canaden.cis
Red maple Acer rubrum
White pine Pious ,ctrobtrs
Black willow Salix nigra
Rhododendrons Rhododendron spp.
Tag alder Alnu,c serrulata
Silky dogwood Corms amonuun
Sphagnum moss Sphagnumn spp.
Cinnamon fern Osmundn cinnarnnmea
Royal fern O.cmunda regalis
Sensitive fern Onnclea sensihilis
headwater forests
Red maple Acer rubrum
Swcctgum Liquidamhar styrnc•iflua
Green ash Fraxinu,c pennsylvanica
Willow oak Quercus phellos
Loblolly Pine Pious taeda
American elm Ulmu.c americana
Sycamore Platanus occidc~ntali.c
Tulip poplar Liriodendron tulipifern (piedmont)
Black gum Ny.csa .cylvatica (piedmont and coastal
plain)
138

bottomland hardwood forests
mountacns
Red maple Acer rccbrum
Sycamore Plntanecs occidentali.c
River birch Betula nigra
Eastern hemlock Tsc~ga canadensis
Rhododendrons Rhododendron spp.
Tag alder Alnus serrulata
Royal fern Osmunda regalis
Jewelweed Impatiens capensis
piedmont, sandhills and coastal plain
Red maple Acer rubrum
Green ash Fraxinccs pennsylvanica
American elm Ulmus mnericana
Sweetgum Liquidambar sryraciflua
River birch Betula nigra
Ironwood Carpinus caroliniana
Swamp chestnut oak Quercus michauxii
Water oak Quercus nigra
Willow oak Quercus phellos
Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Greenbriar Smilax spp.
Buckeye Aesculus sylvatica (piedmont)
Coastal dog hobble Leucothoe axillaris (coastal plain)
Swamp dog hobble Leucothoe racemosa
Virginia willow Itea virginica (coastal plain, eastern
piedmont)
Sweet pepperbush Clethra alnifolia (coastal plain,
eastern piedmont)
Ti-ti Cyrilla racemiflora (coastal plain)
Lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
Jewelweed Impatiens capencis
Giant Cane Arundinaria gigantea
Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea
Royal fern Osmunda regalis
Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
Virginia chainfern Woodwardia virginica (coastal plain)
Netted chainfern Woodwardia areolata
swamp forests
Bald Cypress
Water Tupelo
Swamp Black gum
Willow Oak
Red Maple
Taxodium distichum
Nyssa aquatica
Nyssa biflora
Quercus phellos
Acer rubrum
139

_ __.._
A~pend~ ~ Dominant Plants rim l~Iaj~r ~Jeilan~ Tykes
freshwater marshes
Black willow Saliz nigra
Buttonhush Cephalanthus occidentali.c
Tag alder Alnus serrttlata
Swamp rose Rosa palustris
Wax-myrtle Myrica cerifera (coastal plain,
piedmont)
Rose mallow; Marsh mallow Hibiscus moscheutos
Cattail ~ Typha spp.
Rush Juncus spp.
Bulrush Scirpus spp.
Spikerush Eleocharis spp.
Sedges Carex spp, etc.
Arrow-arum Peltandra virginica
Blue flag Iris virginica
Bladderwort Utricularia spp.
Common duckweed Lemna spp.
Giant duckweed Spirodela spp.
Spatterdock; Cow lily Nuphar httea
Fragrant water lily Nymphaea odorata
Water lotus Nelumho httea
Water meal Wol~a spp.
estuarine fringe forests
Red maple Acer ruhrum
Swcctgum Liquidantfiar styrariflua
Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda
Swamp Black gum Nyssa hiflora
Wax-myrtle Myrica cerifera
Gallberry Ilex glabra
Laurel-leafed Greenhriar Smilax laurifolia
Ncttcd chainfcrn Woodwardia areolata
Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamnmea
brackish marshes
Black needlerush Juncus roemerianus
Salt meadow cordgrass Spartina patens
Giant cordgrass Spartina cynosuroide.c
Sawgrass Cladittm mariscus jumaircnse
Saltgrass Distichlis spicatu
Glasswort Salicornia virginica
salt shrub wetlands
Marsh elder Iva fruteccen.c
Silverling Baccharis halimifolia
Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera
Sea ox-eye Borrichia frutescens
salt marshes
Smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflnra
Glasswort Salicornia virginica
Salt meadow cordgrass Spartina patens
Saltgrass Uistichlis .cpicuta
140

Leaf Characteristics Appendix 2
Leaf N~argins_'
entire lobed
toothed crenate
serrated doubly serrated
Leaf Tips
acuminate acute
truncate bristle tipped
Leaf Arrangement =Farms and'Patterns
simple opposite
palmately compound alternate
pinnately compound whorled
(pinnate)
bi-pinnately compound basal rosette
(bi-pinnate)
141

Leaf Shapes
i
elliptic ~ ~ ~~
i
i,
,~,
lanceolate ` _.
uvate (i ~-
1 -
cordate ,
i
\ __
Flower types
solitary
cyme
(flowers stalked)
panicle
umbel
disk-u+.d rav,.
urn
Appendix 2
linear
~_
i_
i~~
oblanceolate
,r_
obovate
sagittate , ~;'
globular head
raceme
spike
corymb
catkin
~,
142

.~C~:::.~~~ ..:::..::::.:::.::.:.....:...
acute -sharply pointed
acuminate - long tapering point
adventitious -buds or roots that develop in unusual areas. Many wetland
plants exhibit adventitious roots.
annual - a plant whose life cycle is completed in one year or one season
apex -the pointed end or tip (of leafj; apice is the plural form
arenchyma -air filled tissue found in wetland and aquatic plants
axil -the angle between branches and leaves or between branches and branches
axillary -originating from axils
basal rosette -leaves forming circular patterns close to the ground, generally
present year-round
berry - a fleshy fruit containing 1 to many seeds
bipinnate -twice pinnate
blaekwater streams -streams which do not carry sediment; are tannic in
nature and flow through peat based areas
bract - a modified leaf that is part of a flower
brownwater streams - streams which carry sediment and generally originate
from the piedmont or mountains
bundle scar -mark from vascular bundles left on leaf scar when leaf falls
buttressed trunks -swollen tree trunks. Trees in inundated areas often have
swollen tree trunks which aid in stabilization.
catkin - a scaly, generally drooping, spike-like inflorescence
chambered pith -when the pith or inner spongy portion of branches is divided
into sections or rooms, it is said to be 'chambered'; useful in
identification
clasping -closely surrounding the base, as in clasping leaves
143

cm -centimeter; one inch equals 2.5 cm
colonial - a group of plants of the same species, spreading by rhizome or
rootstock
cordate -heart shaped
culm -the stem of a grass or grass-like plant
eyme -abroad, flat inflorescence, in which the innermost flowers bloom first
deciduous -plants that lose their leaves once a year, usually in winter.
dentate -toothed or jagged
diaphragmed pith -when the pith or inner spongy portion of branches
contains lines (stripes) or divisions and the pith is
continuous it is said to be diaphragmed; useful in
identification
drupe - a fleshy, berry-like fruit containing one seed
elliptic -football-shaped, with the widest point at the middle
emersed- above the water's surface or emergent
emergent plants -rooted aquatic or wetland herbs with stems and leaves
extending above the surface of the water
entire -smooth leaf margins, without teeth or divisions
evergreen -plants which retain their leaves throughout the year.
facultative plant (FAC) -plants which are equally likely to occur in wetlands
or non-wetlands (estimated probability 34 to 66 percent)
facultative upland plant (FACU) -plants which usually occur innon-
wetlands but are occasionally found in wetlands
(estimated probability 1 to 33 percent)
facultative wetland plant (FACW) -plants which usually occur in wetlands
(estimated probability 67 to 99 percent)
fascicle -bunch or bundle
fertile fronds -the stalks of ferns which contain the reproductive spores
144

145

,;
.::::.:::.::.::.::::.:::::::::::::::,:::.::::.:.::.~ .:::.:::::.~:::.:::n.:.::.:..~:::::........,...,.....,...,.......:........:: v......::.,.::::.::.v...,.,:.v,.n,...,.,..
r~ .:..r:.N.v,:;:~.:,,,:..:~
'! ~..J
Q
.........v! ....................... ................. ..................... ........... .,....... .
ocrea -stipules that form sheaths, characteristic of smartweeds
ovate -oval in shape, with the broader end below the middle
panicle- a branched inflorescence
perennial - a plant which grows year after year
petiole -the stalk supporting a leaf
pinnate- divided into leaflets that are arranged on either side of a rachis, as in a
feather
pinna -leaflet or a division of the leaf blade in ferns. (pinnae -plural form)
pome -type of fleshy fruit
prickle - a slender thorn-like projection which breaks off entirely
pubescent -hairy or fuzzy
raceme - a spike-like inflorescence with the flowers stalked
rachis -the portion of the petiole or stem to which the green leafy part of the
plant (fern) is attached
rhizome - an elongated, underground root, which usually grows horizontally
rhizomotous -reproduction by sprouting horizontal roots, often resulting in a
colony of plants
rush -grass-like plant that forms dense clumps, mostly in wet areas. Needle-
like stems are cylindrical or flattened, hollow and green
sagittate -shaped like an arrowhead, triangular
samara -winged fruit which are dispersed by wind, found on trees such as
maples
scabrous -having rough or finely toothed edges
sedge -grass-like plant, usually with solid triangular stems
sepals -modified leaves located at the base of the flower
146

.::;:::G:::?:::>;::::2?>~<':s:'',•';::::;:;::;::::~:::';:::;::::;:r::;:{::;4:::~a;r..i;::R;%L;;o>:~;:::•:::;•>:c:c::;~::::~:;:;•:::n:~:::•::?~~'±':"`'%r''f`'?~>`':~':<'.`s?``>` `~5``::':``:?2~;
serrated -containing sharply pointed teeth
shrubs -woody plants generally less than 7 meters in height. Shrubs usually
have multiple 'trunks' or stems.
sori -clusters of spore cases in ferns
spike - an elongated inflorescence with the flowers not stalked
spikelet - a unit of the inflorescence in the grass and sedge families, containing
one or more flowers
spore -reproductive 'dust-like' cells in ferns
sporangia -cases of spores
stalked - containing a stalk or occurring on a pedestal
stamen -the pollen bearing (male) part of a flower
sterile fronds -fern stems and leaves not containing the spores.
stipe -petiole or 'stem' in ferns. Can also be a small spur-like growth in other
plants
stipule - a small leafy projection on both sides of the base of a leaf or petiole
stipular scar -the scar that is left on a twig when a leaf or petiole drops
stolon- a shoot or root which may be above ground or underground
submersed -growing below the water's surface
succulent -containing fleshy tissue, not woody
tendril - a curling structure, common in vines, which enables them to climb
terminal -occurring at the tip
trees -woody plants greater than 7 meters tall, and usually with one main trunk
trichomes -stiff fibrous hairs
turion -modified stem bud. Some perennial plants survive winter conditions
by farming these specialized organs (turions)
wetland -intermediate areas between land and water, where aquatic and
terrestrial communities interface
147

~.1.1. .. 'Y.:6i::'.~ ;: ~ ;., ~... ~~ :.::::::::.:~ ~ :::..:.........................: ........... {?; phi:?4
/ .,: ;.
Beal, Earnest O. 1977. A Manual of Marsh and Aquatic Plants of North
Carolina with Habitat Data. North Carolina Agricultural Research
Service. Raleigh, North Carolina 27695. 298pp.
Dunbar, Lin . 1989. Ferns of the Coastal Plain. University of South Carolina
Press. 165pp.
Eleuterius, Lionel N. 1990. Tidal Marsh Plants. Pelican Publishing Company.
Gretna, Lousiana 70053. 168pp.
Godfrey, R. K. and J. W. Wooten. 1979. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of
Southeastern United States: Monocotyledons. University of Georgia
Press. Athens.
Godfrey, R. K, and J. W. Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of
Southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. University of Georgia Press.
Athens.
Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. Division of
Exploration and Introduction. Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and
Agricultural Engineering. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Washington D.C.
Kartesz, John T. 1994. A Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the
United States, Canada and Greenland. Volume I (Checklist) & Volume
II (Thesaurus) Timber Press, Portland Oregon.
N.C. Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Division of
Environmental Management, Water Quality Section. 1996. A Field
Guide to North Carolina Wetlands. DEM# 96-01. EPA# 904lB-94/001.
Radford, Albert E., Harry E Ahles, C. Ritchie Bell. 1964. Manual of the
Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina
Press. Chapel Hill, N.C. 1183pp.
Reed, P.B., Jr. 1997. 1996 National List of Plant Species That Occur in
Wetlands. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington, D.C.
Tarver, D.P. J.A. Rodgers, M.J. Mahler and R.L. Lazor. 1986. Aquatic and
Wetland Plants of Florida. Bureau of Aquatic Plant Research and
Control. Florida Department of Natural Resources, Talahassee, Florida.
Tiner, Ralph D. 1993. Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants of the
Southeastern United States. The University of Massachusetts Press.
328pp.
148

..............
Alder, Tag 37 Cypress, Bald l 1
American cupscale 97 Deciduous holly 49
Arrow arum 70 Dog-Hobble, Coastal 42
Arrowhead 71 Dog-Hobble, Swamp 43
Arthraxon, Joint head 98 Dogwood, Silky 44
Ash, Green 5 Duck potato 71
Asiatic dayflower 72 Duckweed, Giant 132
Barnyard grass 99 Elderberry 45
Bayberry 68 Elm, American 12
Beakrush 110 False nettle 86
Bitter gallberry 50 Ferns 78-84
Black gum 7 Fetterbush 46
Black needlerush 115 Glasswort, Perennial 85
Bladderwort 130 Grape 120
Blue flag, Southern 73 Grape fern 79
Black haw 63 Grass (creeping) 105
Blueberry, Highbush 38 Great laurel 56
Box elder 9 Greenbrier; catbrier 122
Buckeye 39 Greenbrier, Laurel-leaved 123
Bulrush 111 Greenbrier; saw geenbrier 124
Buttonbush 40 Greenbriers 122-124
Cane, Giant 100 Ground-nut 121
Cardinal flower 74 Groundsel tree 58
Cattail, Common 75 Gums, tupelos 7-8
Cattail, Narrow-leaved 76 Hearts-a-burstin' 47
Cedar, Atlantic White 10 Hemlock, Eastern 13
Chokeberry, Red 41 Hollies, gallberries 49-52
Cinnamon fern 78 Hop hornbeam 14
Clearweed 77 Horse sugar 48
Climbing hempweed 118 Inkberry 50, 51
Common duckweed 131 Ironwood 15
Cordgrass, Giant 101 Jewelweed 87
Cordgrass, Salt meadow 102 Lizard's tail 88
Cordgrass, Smooth 103 Loblolly bay 16
Cow lily 133 Maple, Red 17
Crossvine 119 Marsh elder 53
Cutgrass, Rice 104 Marsh mallow 91
149

index to C`U1~Ixton ax1~e
Netted chainfern 80 Sensitive fern 82
Oak, Chcrrybark 18 Silverling Sg
Oak, Laurel 19 Smartweed 93
Oak, Ovcrcup 20 Sourwood 30
Oak, Swamp Chestnut 21 Southern arrowwood 65
Oak, Water 22 Southern lady fern . 83
Oak, Willow 23 Spatterdock 133
Oaks 18-23 Spiccbush 59
Pawpaw, Common 54 Spikegrass 108
Persimmon 28 Spikerush 114
Pickcrclwecd 89 Swamp black gum 7
Pine, Loblolly 24 Swamp rose 60
Pine, Longleaf 25 Swamp tupelo 7
Pine, Pond 26 Sweet bay 31
Pine, White 27 Swcct gallbcrry 51
Pines 24-27 Sweet pepperbush 61
Poison ivy 125 Sweetgum 32
Pokeberry; pokeweed 90 Sycamore 33
Possum haw 64 Tear-thumb 94
Privet, Chinese 55 Ti-ti 62
Rattan vine 126 Trumpet creeper 127
Rattlesnake fern 79 Tulip poplar 34
Rcdbay 29 Tulip tree 34
Recd, Common 106 Viburnums 63-65
Rhododendron 56 Virginia chainfern 84
River birch 6 Virginia creeper 128
River oats 107 Virginia-willow 66
Rose mallow 91 Water lily, Fragrant 134
Royal fern 81 Water lotus 135
Rush 116 Water meal 136
Rushes 115-116 Water tupelo g
Saltgrass 108 Water-horehound 95
Sawgrass 112 Wax-myrtle 67
Sca ox-eye 57 Willow, Black 35
Seashore mallow 92 Wintcrbcrry 52
Scdgc; Carcx 113 Wircgrass 109
Scdgcs 110-114
150

d~~...t~ ~~~~nt~~c .N`r
Acer negurtdo 9 Echinochloa crusgalli 99
Acer rttbrum 17 Eleocharis spp. 114
Aesculus sylvaticct 39 Eulalia vimineum -see Mi.cros tegium
Alrtus serrulata 37 vimineum
Aneilema keisak 72 Euonymus americana -see Evonymus
americana
Anisostichus capreolata -sec Bignonia
Evonymus americana
47
capreolata
Apios americana 121 Fraxinus pennsylvanica 5
Aristida strictn 109 Gordonia lasiantltus 16
Aroma arbutifolia 41 Hibiscus moscheutos 91
Arthraxon hispidus 98 Ilex coriacea 51
Arundinaria gigantea 100 Ilex decidua 49
Asimirta triloba 54 Ilex gla~bra 50
Athyritcm asplenioides -see Athyrium Ilex verticillata 52
felix femina ssp. asplenioides Impatiens capensis 87
Athyritcm felix femina ssp. 83 Iris virginica 73
asplenioides Itea virginica 66
Baccharis halimifolia 58 Iva frutescens 53
Berchemia scandens 126 Juncus roemeriartus 115
Bettcla nigra 6 Juncos spp. 116
Bignonia capreolata 119 Kosteletzkya virginica 92
Boehmeria cylirtdrica 86 Leersia oryzoides 104
Borrichia frutescens 57 Lemna spp. 131
Botrychium spp. 79 Leucothoe axillaris 42
Campsis radicans 127 Leucothoe racemosa 43
Carex spp. 113 Ligustrttm sinense 55
Carpinus carolirtiana 15 Lindera benzoin 59
Cephalanthus occidentalis 40 Liquidambar styraciflua 32
Chamaecyparis thyoides 10 Liriodendron tulipifera 34
Chasmanthium latifolium 107 Lobelia eardinalis 74
Cladium jamaicense -see Cladium Lyonia lucida 46
mariscus jamaicense
Magnolia virginiarta
31
Cladium mariscus jamaicense 112
Microstegium vimineum 105
Clethra alnifolia 61
Mikania scandens 11.8
Corms amomurn 44
Murdannia keisak
72
Cyrilla racemijlora 62
Myrica cerifera
67
Diospyros virgirtimta 28
Myrica heterophylla
68
Distichlis spicatct 108
151

4 ::. ~
d'
n e
t
oS
ere
n 2~c
.....
.: ~ .. ....: ..~.........: .~::~ :..:::::::::::.........~::::::::.~:::.:::::::~.:::f:
Nelumho lutt?a 135 Quercus phellos
Ntrphar Itrtea 133 Rhododendron maximum
Ncrphar lutecrm -sec Nuphar lutea Rhynchospora spp.
Nymphaea odorata 134 Rosa palustris
Nyssa agcrntica 8 Sacciolepis striata
Nyssa biflora 7 Sagittaria spp.
N}ssa sylvatica 7 Salicornia virginica
Nyssa sylvatica biflora - scc N}ssa Salix nigra
biflora
Sambucus canadensis
Ortoclea sensibilis 82 Saururus cerntcus
Osmunda cinnantomea 78 Scirpus spp.
Osnttrttda regalis 81 Smilax bona-nox
Ostrva virgirtiana 14 Smilax laurifolia
Oxvdendrum arboreum 30 Smilax spp.
Parthenocisstcs quingtrefolia 128 Sorbus arbutifolia -see Aronia
Peltandra virginica 70 arbutifolia
Persea horbortia 29 Spartina altentiflora
Phragmites ncrstralis 106 Spartina cynosuroides
Phragmites commcutis - sce Phragmites Spartina patens
austrnlis Spirodela spp.
Phytolacca americnna 90 Symplocos tinctoria
Pilea pumila 77 Taxodium disticitum
Pintcs palustris 25 Toxicodendron radicans
Pinus serotina 26 Tsuga canadensis
Pirurs strobtrs 27 Typha angustifolia
Pinus tneda 24 Typha latifolia
Platarttrs occideittalis 33 Ulmus americana
Polygottcrm sagittatum 94 Utriculnria spp.
Polygonum spp. 93 Vaccinium corymbosum
Ponterleria cordata 89 Viburnum dentatum
Qererctrs falcata pagodaefolia -sec Viburnum nudum
Qtrerctrs pagoda
Quercus latrrifolia 19
Viburnum prunifolium
Quercus l}~rnta 20
Vitis spp.
Quercus michauxii 21
Wol~a spp.
Quercus nigra 22
Woodwardia areolata
Quercus pagoda 18 Woodwardia virginica
152

Acer negundo 9 Echinochloa crusgalli 99
Acer rubrctm 17 Eleocharis spp. 114
Aesculus sylvatica 39 Eulalia vimineum -see Microstegium
Alms serrulata 37 vimineum
Arteilema keisak 72 Euonymus americana -see Evonymus

Artisostichus capreolata -sec Bignonia americana
capreolata Evonymus americana 47
Apios americana 121 Fraxinus pennsylvanica 5
Aristida stricta 109 Gordonia lasianthus 16
Arortia arbutifolia 41 Hibiscus moscheutos 91
Arthraxon hispidus 98 Ilex coriacea 51
Arundinaria gigantea 100 Ilex decidua 49
Asimina triloba 54 Ilex glabra 50
Athyrium asplenioides -see Athyrium Ilex verticillata 52
felix femina ssp. asplenioides Impatiens capensis 87
Athyriccm felix femina ssp. 83 Iris virginica 73
asplenioides Itea virginica 66
Baccharis halimifolia 58 Iva frutescens 53
Berchemia scartderts 126 .Tuncus roemeriarucs 115
Betula nigra 6 Junctts spp. 116
Bignonia capreolata 119 Kosteletzkya virginica 92
Boehmeria cylirtdrica 86 Leersia oryzoides 104
Borrichia frutescens 57 Lemna spp. 131
Botrychium spp. 79 Leucothoe axillaris 42
Campsis radicans 127 Leucothoe racemosa 43
Carex spp. 113 Ligustrctm sinense 55
Carpinus caroliniarta 15 Lindera benzoin 59
Cephalanthus occidentalis 40 Liquidambar styraciflua 32
Chamaecyparis t{tyoides 10 Liriodendron tulipifera 34
Chasmartthium latifolictm 107 Lobelia cardinalis 74
Cladium jamaicertse -see Cladium Lyonia lucida 46
mariscus jamaicertse
Magnolia virginiana
31
Cladium mariscus jamaicense 112
Clethra alnifolia 61 Microstegium vimineum 105
Corpus amomunt 44 Mikania scandens 118
Cyrilla racemiflora 62 Murdannia keisak 72
Diospyros virginliana 28 Myrica cerifera 67
Distichlis spicatct 108
Myrica heterop{tylla
68
151

`~ C~ C;X
11 tD SCI l l
ant ~`c Name~>>:<::>::::<<»:::::::>><:::::<:<::<>:>>»<>:;<::<<>:::::::;::>::~::<<><:>~_<:>><>><>><:<::>::::<::::::::>
{
Nelumho lutt?cr 135 Quercus phellos
Ntrplrcrr Icrtea 133 Rhododendron maximum
Nuphar lutecrm -sec Nuphar lutea Rhynchospora spp.
Nymphaea odorata 134 Rosa pnlctstris
Nyssa nquntica 8 Sacciolepis striata
Nyssa biflora 7 Sagittaria spp.
N}:csa sylvatica 7 Salicornia virginica
Nyssa sylvatica biflora - scc Nyssa Salix nigra
biflora Sambuccrs canadensis
Ortoclea .censibilis 82 Snttrurus cernccus
Osmunda cirutnmomea 78 Scirpus spp.
Osmunda regali.s 81 Smilax bona-nox
Ostrya virginicata 14 Smilax laurifolia
Oxydenclrunt arboreum 30 Smilax spp.
Partherrocissus quinquefolia 128 Sorbus arbutifolia -see Aronia
Peltandra virginica 70 arbutifolia
Persea horbortia 29 Spartina alterniflorn
Phragmites australis 106 Spartina cynosuroides
Phragmites commemis - sce Phragmites Spartina patens
australis Spirodela spp.
Pirytolacca crmericana 90 Symplocos tinctoria
Pilea pumila 77 Taxodium distichum
Pirtcrs palustris 25 Toxicodendron radicans
Pinus serotina 26 Tsuga canadensis
Pinus strohus 27 Typha angustifolia
Pinus taeda 24 Typha latifolia
Platanus occidentalis 33 Ulmus americana
Polygoncrm sagittntum 94 Utricularia spp.
Polygorurm spp. 93 Vaccinium corymbosum
Porttederia cordata 89 Viburnum dentatum
Qerercus falcata pagodaefolia -sec Viburnum nudum
Quercus pagoda

Quercus laurifolia
19 Viburnum prcrnifolitrm
Quercus l grata 20 Vitis spp.

Quercus michauxii
21 Wolffa spp.

Quercus nigra
22 Woodwardia areolata
Quercus pagoda 18
Woodwardia virginica
152