Shrub or tree to 15 m; lvs entire, firm and shining, lance-oblong to obovate, 5-15 cm, on petioles 1-2 cm; panicles axillary to and surpassed by older lvs; cor dull white, the tube 3-4 mm, the ovate spreading lobes nearly as long; fr dark purple, 1-1.5 cm; 2n=138. Rich woods and swamps; se. Va. to Fla. and La.; Mex. Apr., May. Ours is var. americanus (Amarolea a.)

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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