Epigaea repens
ground-laurel, mayflower, trailing-arbutus
to 30(–50) cm.
often hirsute-hispid, especially when young.
alternate (distal leaves sometimes closely spaced, appearing subopposite or opposite);
petiole 1–5 cm, with unicellular hairs of varying lengths;
blade ovate-elliptic, (2–)3–8(–10) × 1.5–5.5 cm, base rounded or cordate, margins ciliate with stiff hairs, plane, apex obtuse to acute and mucronate, abaxial surface with distinctive reticulate venation, adaxial and abaxial surfaces with long, soft or stiff hairs, becoming glabrate.
axillary and terminal clusters, 2–5 cm;
bracteoles persistent, 2, 4–7 mm (often extending to calyx lobes), hirsute.
bisexual or unisexual due to undeveloped or sterile stamens or ovary (staminate flowers larger than carpellate), with spicy fragrance;
sepals distinct nearly to base, 5–6 mm, hirsute;
corolla tube 6–10(–15) mm, lobes 5, spreading, rose or pink to white, 6–10 mm;
filaments adnate to base of corolla tube, hairy basally;
ovary glandular-hairy;
style slender, with collar or ring of tissue partly adnate to stigma.
depressed-globose, 5-lobed, 5–8 mm diam., fleshy, outer surface glandular-hirsute, white and pulpy within due to persistent, fleshy placentae.
brown, 0.5 mm.
= 24.
Epigaea repens
Although common in much of its range, Epigaea repens is rare in Florida, occurring only in the western part of the state. Although documented from Illinois, it has not been seen there since the late 1800s. It is a well known member of the early spring flora, usually beginning to flower well before deciduous trees leaf out. Commonly known as mayflower, it was designated the state flower of Massachusetts in 1918 and received legal protection there in 1925. The flowers are sweetly fragrant.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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