Deciduous shrub
General Habitat: Primarily found in dry, open, upland forest of mixed hardwood and pine.
General Description: This small shrub is colonial and grows up to 3ft, (1m) tall. The leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem, narrowly ovate to elliptic, and 1.25-2.3in (3-6cm) long. Male and female flowers are produced on different plants (dioecious). The female flowers are solitary and the male flowers are in umbellate clusters; both types arise from the axils of the leaves. The petals on the male and female flowers are absent; however, the 4-5 sepals are petal-like, greenish-yellow to maroon, and less than 0.1in, (3mm) long. Flowering occurs April through May with fruiting in July. The fruit is a spherical drupe (fleshy, one-seeded.) This species maybe parasitic on the roots of pines and oaks. The species is currently listed as a Federal Candidate Species.
