Eastern Leatherwood Dirca palustris LinnaeusThreatened (MD)  -  S2 (State rare)    
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Myrtales   >   Family Thymelaeaceae   >   Genus Dirca   

Status:

Rare in Maryland, where it grows in rich woods and on stream banks, typically with limestone soils (J. Hill/MNPS).

Description:

Stem is much branched, and the bark very tough. Common name is based on branches that are so flexible they can be tied in knots. Pale yellow flowers, in clusters of two or three, emerge before or with the leaves (J. Hill/MNPS).

There are 70 records in the project database.

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Eastern Leatherwood growing in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2019). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood blooming at Potomac Heritage Trail, Fairfax Co., Virginia. Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood growing in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2019). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood growing in Washington Co., Maryland (4/12/2019). Photo by Robert Ferraro. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/20/2019). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/20/2019). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A blooming Eastern Leatherwood in Dane Co., Wisconsin (3/25/2012). In Maryland Eastern Leatherwood is state rare (S2) and is considered threatened. Photo by Corey Raimond. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/19/2020). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood flowering in Garrett Co., Maryland (5/1/2018). Photo by Boyer and McDowell. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in fruit in Montgomery Co., Maryland (4/20/2019). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in Montgomery Co., Maryland (12/23/2014). Photo by Fritz Flohr Reynolds. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood in Garrett Co., Maryland (3/9/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Eastern Leatherwood (inspecting namesake pliable twig) in Garrett Co., Maryland (3/9/2018). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)


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