sourwood (Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Trees & Shrubs)

sourwood

Oxydendrum arboreum

Summary ⁷

Sourwood or sorrel tree (Oxydendrum arboreum, /ˌɒksɨˈdɛndrəm ɑrˈbɔəriəm/) is the sole species in the genus Oxydendrum, in the family Ericaceae. It is native to eastern North America, from southern Pennsylvania south to northwest Florida and west to southern Illinois; it is most common in the lower chain of the Appalachian Mountains. The tree is frequently seen as a component of oak-heath forests.

Taxon biology ⁸

Ericaceae -- Heath family

Ronald P. Overton

Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum) grows in the upland forests of the southeastern United States. Also known as sorrel-tree or lily-of-the-valley-tree, its flowers are an important source of honey in some areas but it is of little value as a timber species. Sourwood sprouts often interfere with the establishment of more desirable species in second-growth and cutover areas. This mid-summer flowering tree is an attractive ornamental.

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