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Loblolly bay

Gordonia lasianthus

Also called Loblollybay Gordonia

Loblolly bay
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Family
Theaceae (Tea & camellia family)
Grows as
Tree, Shrub
Water
Likes moisture
Native range
SE. U.S.A.
Climate
subtropical

About

Gordonia lasianthus (loblolly-bay, holly-bay, gordonia, or bay) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree or shrub found in acidic, swampy soils of pinelands and bays on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States. It is a member of the tea or family Theaceae. It is slow growing with soft, light-colored (varies in color from cream to carmine), fine-grained wood of little commercial value, although loblolly-bay could be managed as a source of pulpwood. When older specimens are cut, the wood exudes a strong scent. It is similar to a mixture of fresh oranges and pine sap. The bark of the adult tree varies from medium grey to a red brown coloration. Dead adult specimens of loblolly bay exhibit a lustrous shine when exposed to sunlight for several years. The white showy flowers and shiny foliage make it a desirable ornamental, but it is not easy to cultivate.

Other Gordonia plants

Gordonia curtyana · Huamanchilca · Gordonia villosa · Gordonia

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Gordonia lasianthus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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