Swamp Privet (Forestiera acuminata)
- Family: Ash (Oleaceae)
- Flowering: March-April.
- Field Marks: This species differs by its opposite, simple leaves that taper to a long point at the tip and by its yellow flowers that bloom before the leaves appear. The trunks are smooth and gray or brown.
- Habitat: Swamps, wet woods, along streams, around ponds, in sloughs.
- Habit: Small tree up to 30 feet tall; crown spreading and irregular.
- Bark: Gray or brown, smooth.
- Buds: Spherical, up to 1/8 inch in diameter, smooth.
- Leaves: Opposite, simple, elliptic, long-pointed at the tip, tapering to the base, finely toothed, usually smooth, up to 4 inches long, up to 1 1/2 inches broad.
- Flowers: Male and female flowers borne on different trees, appearing before the leaves begin to unfold, yellow.
- Sepals: Minute or absent.
- Petals: 0.
- Stamens: 2 or 4.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Fruits: Drupes slender, oblongoid, slightly curved, dark purple, up to 1 inch long, 1-seeded.
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