Plant Family: Adoxaceae
Growth Form: Loosely branched low shrub with arching stems that can take root where they meet the ground, sometimes tripping up hikers!
Leaves / Buds: Opposite, simple, finely toothed, large, up to 20 cm in both length and width, the underside is covered in rust-colored hairs; the winter buds are conspicuous rust-colored leaves with an enclosed flower bud.
Bark: Gray to brown, somewhat scaly.
Flowers: Two flower types are present – the white outer flowers are large but sterile, and likely attract pollinators to the smaller inner flowers of the cluster.
Fruits: Berry-like green drupes that gradually turn red and ripen to blue-black in late summer.
Habitat: Prefers well-drained soils in the shady understory of mature forests and cool ravines.
Range: More common in northern New England, absent from the Cape and Islands, listed as endangered in Rhode Island; ranges north into Canada and south in the mountains to Tennessee.
Key Feature: The large, opposite, nearly round leaves allow for easy identification.
