Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Southern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Ericales>Ericaceae>Lyonia ligustrina (Linnaeus) A.P. de Candolle var. foliosiflora (Michaux) Fernald

Southern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora)

Southern Maleberry is a fairly common medium-sized shrub of moist habitats in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Quite different from more northerly distributed var. ligustrina, which is also present in the Coastal Plain but more common in the Mountains, var. foliosiflora has leafy inflorescences.

Racemes of globose white flowers appear in spring, followed by pubescent globose capsules.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

Southern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora)

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.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

Southern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora)

The inflorescences are very leafy.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

Southern Maleberry (Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora)

Bark detail.

Robeson Co., NC 5/29/08.

More information:
Wetland Plants of the Carolinas

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides