leatherleaf

LC - Least Concern

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

OBL - Obligate wetland

OBL - Obligate wetland

OBL - Obligate wetland

Leatherleaf is common and abundant shrub of northern wetlands. It occurs throughout northern Europe and Asia and northern North America. In the United States it occurs from Maine to Minnesota, south to New Jersey and Illinois, with disjunct populations in North Carolina and Washington State. In Minnesota it occurs in the north-central and northeast regions south to the Metro region. It is found in open areas in bogs, marshes, swamps, and floodplains, and on riverbanks and lakeshores. It grows under full sun in acidic, nutrient-poor soils. It is the dominant shrub of dwarf shrub wetland communities.

Leatherleaf is a perennial, evergreen, dwarf shrub that rises on several stems from an underground horizontal stem (rhizome). It can be 8″ to 60″ tall but is usually no more than 40″ in height. It often forms dense thickets.

The stems may be erect, curving up from the base (ascending), or nearly horizontal (spreading). They have many stiff, wiry branches.

First year twigs are brown and are covered with minute hairs and scattered scales. In the second year they turn gray and eventually brown or purplish-brown. The mass of spongy cells in the center of the stem (pith), best seen when the stem is sliced at an angle, is solid.

The leaves are alternate, leathery, evergreen, ⅝″ to 2″ (15 to 50 mm) long, and ⅜″ to ⅝″ (10 to 15 mm) wide. They are on short, 1⁄16″ to ⅛″ (1.5 to 3 mm) long leaf stalks (petioles). They often point upward from the stem. The largest mature leaves are 3 times as long as wide. The leaf blades are oval, sometimes with nearly parallel sides (oblong), sometimes widest in the middle and narrowing to both ends (elliptic), rarely widest beyond the middle (obovate). They are wedge shaped at the base, taper to a broad or narrow point at the tip, and have a short, abrupt point at the tip (mucronate). The upper surface is dark olive-green, dull, and hairless, and is sparsely covered with scales. The lower surface is pale green and densely covered with white or rust-colored scales. The margins are slightly rolled under and have minute, rounded teeth.

The inflorescence is a leafy, 1½″ to 4¾″ (4 to 12 cm) long, unbranched, one-sided (secund) cluster (raceme) of 8 to 20 small flowers at the end of the stem and branches. The leaves within the raceme are similar to branch leaves but much smaller.

The flowers are urn-shaped and 3⁄16″ to ¼″ (5 to 7 mm) long. They have both male and female parts (bisexual). Each flower hangs downward singly from a leaf axil on a 1⁄32″ to ⅛″ (1 to 3 mm) long, densely hairy stalk (pedicel). There are 5 outer floral leaves (sepals), 5 petals, 10 stamens, and 1 style. The sepals are broadly triangular, 1⁄16″to ⅛″ (1.5 to 3 mm) long, and scaly. The petals are fused for most of their length then separated into 5 short lobes. The lobes are 1⁄32″ to 1⁄16″ (1 to 2 mm) long and curved backward. The stamens do not extend beyond the corolla. The style sometimes extends slightly beyond the corolla.

The fruit is a hairless, flattened globular, 5-chambered, ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ (3 to 5 mm) in diameter capsule. It matures in the fall and remains on the plant through the winter. The sepals and the style persist with the capsule.

8″ to 60″

White

Wet. Bogs, marshes, swamps, floodplains, riverbanks, and lakeshores. Full sun.

Early May to mid-June

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 24, 28, 29, 30.

Native

Common and abundant in the northeastern third of Minnesota.

Leatherleaf is the only species in the genus Chamaedaphne.

Located in bog/wetland

Location: Cass County

Located in bog/wetland