Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Northern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Lyonia ligustrina (L.) DC. var. ligustrina

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina)

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

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

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina) flowers

Flower detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina)

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

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

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina)

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

Harnett Co., NC 8/18/05.

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina) fruit

The dry capsules split open when ripe.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/1/06.

Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina) bark

Bark detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.

More information:
Connecticut Wildflowers
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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