pondberry (Lindera melissifolia)
Taxonomy:
Listing Status:
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
General Information
Pondberry, Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume, is a deciduous shrub, growing from less than 1 foot (30 cm) to, infrequently, more than 6 feet (2 m) in height. Leaves are aromatic, alternate, elliptical, somewhat thin and membranaceous, with entire margins. Shrubs usually are sparsely branched, with fewer branches on smaller plants. Plants are rhizomatous, frequently propagating by vegetative sprouts and forming colonies. Plants are dioecious, each plant is a male or a female, and produce clusters of small, yellow flowers in early spring prior to leaf development, from buds on branches produced from the growth during the preceding year. Immature fruits are drupes, green, and ripen to red by fall.
- States/US Territories in which the pondberry, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: Alabama , Arkansas , Georgia , Mississippi , Missouri , North Carolina , South Carolina
- US Counties in which the pondberry, Wherever found is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- USFWS Refuges in which the pondberry, Wherever found is known to occur:
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge, Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-07-31 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | Wherever found |
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2010-04-09 00:00:00.0 | 75 FR 18233 18234 | 5-Year Status Reviews of 10 Southeastern Species; Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information |
| 1985-08-13 00:00:00.0 | 50 FR 32582 325 85 | Proposed End. Status for Lindera melissifolia (Pondberry); 50 FR 32582-325- 85 |
| 1986-07-31 00:00:00.0 | 51 FR 27495 27500 | Determination of End. Status for Lindera melissifolia; 51 FR 27495-27500 |
» Recovery
| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-09-23 | Pondberry | View Implementation Progress | Final |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-04-09 | 75 FR 18233 18234 | 5-Year Status Reviews of 10 Southeastern Species; Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information |
|
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 2014-03-03 | Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia) 5-Year Review |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the pondberry.
» Conservation Plans
No conservation plans have been created for pondberry.
» Petitions
» Life History
Reproductive Strategy
Flowering occurs from March to April, with male flowers emerging prior to female flowers. Fruits, produced on female plants, are typically green throughout the summer months and turn bright red in the fall. Hermit thrushes, Catharus guttatus, are the only known animal dispersal agent of pondberry.
Other
Lindera melissifolia is a distinctive species, with diagnostic characters that clearly distinguish it from the other two species of spicebush found in the southeastern United States, L. benzoin and L. subcoriacea.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.
