Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume
Spicebush, northern spicebush
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Magnoliidae Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order Laurales Trees and shrubs, including bay laurels, cinnamon, avocado, sassafras and others
Family Lauraceae Laurel family, mostly tropical evergreens
Genus Lindera Honors Johann Linder (1676-1723), a Swedish botanist and physician.
Species benzoin From the Arabic vernacular word meaning aromatic gum.
About plant names...
Spicebush, named for the spicy odor its leaves produce when crushed, is a Florida native deciduous shrub. They prefer swamps, stream edges, and low riparian forests. They are now found through much of the
eastern United States.
Plants: The rounded shrubs are usually 6-12′ (1.8-3.7 m) in size,
sometimes becoming a small tree, reaching up to 15′ (4.6 m). Bark is thin, and brown or gray-brown.
Leaves: Thick, alternate , entire , obovate , with smooth edges. Leaves are light green and up to 7″ (18 cm) × 2½″ (7 cm).
Flowers: Dense clusters of yellow-green flowers emerge
from branches before leaves appear in the spring. Each flower is ¼″ (6.3 mm) around,
with six yellow or greenish-yellow sepals . Flowers are dioecious —some plants have
male flowers and others have female.
Fruits: Female plants produce bright red oblong drupes up
to ½″ (1.3 cm) long.
Online References:
The Missouri Botanical Garden
Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org
Npsnj.org (Great photos of male and female flowers)
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Plants.ces.ncsu.edu
Floranorthamerica.org
9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
4/23/2016 · Big Tree/Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, Massachusetts
7/28/2017 · Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)
10/3/2010 · Dingmans Falls, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts
8/30/2016 · Massachusetts
7/28/2017 · Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm)
Lindera benzoin description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Oct 2021.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
10/3/2010 · Dingmans Falls, Dingmans Ferry, Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (54 × 36 cm)
9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
9/13/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
7/28/2017 · Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
7/28/2017 · Porcupine Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)
Range: Zones 4b-9a:
About this map...
Home   
Species