Swamp doghobble (Eubotrys racemosa, Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n.s., 8: 269 (1842))

Family: Ericaceae

Author: (L.) Nutt.

Bibliography: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n.s., 8: 269 (1842)

Year: 1842

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Eubotrys

Vegetable: False

Observations: E. U.S.A. to Texas

Description

Swamp doghobble, known scientifically as Eubotrys racemosa, is an intriguing plant species that graces the diverse flora of the eastern United States, extending its range as far west as Texas. This member of the Ericaceae family was first documented in classical botanical literature with a detailed description appearing in the 1842 volume of the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society.

The swamp doghobble thrives in its native habitat, which typically includes wetland areas such as swamps and other moist, wooded landscapes. Its prevalence in this specific ecosystem underscores its common name, which conjures images of damp, entangling vegetation. The plant is well-adapted to such environments, demonstrating a robust capacity to flourish in saturated soils where many other species may struggle.

In terms of morphology, Eubotrys racemosa is distinguished by its racemose inflorescence, a botanical term that simply means the flowers are arranged on a central stem, forming a cluster that adds to the plant’s aesthetic appeal. The individual flowers themselves are often small yet significant, contributing to the overall biodiversity and intricate beauty of their native ecosystems.

Overall, the swamp doghobble serves as a remarkable example of how specific plants adapt to their environments and enhance the ecological tapestry of the regions they inhabit. Its enduring presence from the eastern seaboard to the warm expanses of Texas reminds us of the intricate and interconnected nature of North America’s plant life.

Common Names

Eng: coastal fetterbush, fetterbush, swamp doghobble
Swe: sommarrosling
En: Swamp doghobble, Deciduous swamp fetterbush, Swamp Deciduous-Doghobble, Coastal fetterbush, Fetterbush
Sv: Sommarrosling

Synonyms

• Leucothoe racemosa var. projecta (Fernald)
• Zenobia racemosa ((L.) DC.)
• Lyonia racemosa ((L.) D.Don)
• Cassandra racemosa ((L.) Spach)
• Andromeda elegans (Meerb.)
• Leucothoe racemosa ((L.) A.Gray)
• Leucothoe elongata (Small)
• Leucothoe spicata (G.Don)
• Andromeda spicata (P.Watson)
• Eubotrys elongata ((Small) Small)
• Leucothoe racemosa var. elongata ((Small) Fernald)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Virginia (native)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken May 30, 2015 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2015 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2882654)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330385-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Eubotrys racemosa Nutt.)

Specifications

Growth