Sourwood
ExplorarPlantas
Sourwood
oxydendrum arboreum
Sourwood, also known as the sorrel tree, is a deciduous understory tree native to the eastern United States, particularly renowned in the Appalachian region. Celebrated for its striking late-summer blooms and brilliant autumn foliage, it is a standout species in deciduous forests, where it rarely exceeds moderate heights. It is highly prized by beekeepers, as its delicate white bell-shaped flowers yield an incredibly rich, light-colored honey with a distinctively sharp, sweet flavor. Its sour-tasting leaves, which contain oxalic acid, give the tree both its common and scientific names.
Hábitat: Found in well-drained, acidic soils of upland deciduous forests, ridges, and slopes, often growing alongside oaks and pines.
Aspecto
Sourwood typically grows 9 to 15 meters tall, featuring a slender trunk and a rounded canopy. Its bark is thick, deeply furrowed, and gray-brown, resembling alligator skin on older specimens. The leaves are oblong, finely serrated, and a glossy green during spring and summer, turning a breathtaking brilliant crimson to purple in early autumn. In mid-to-late summer, the tree produces drooping panicles of small, white, urn-shaped flowers that resemble lilies-of-the-valley, which eventually dry into persistent woody seed capsules.
ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenEricalesFamiliaEricaceaeGéneroOxydendrum
Categoría
PlantasRareza
Common
Peligro
1/5 · Muy bajo
Snaps
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Datos interesantes
Mountain hikers sometimes chew on the leaves to alleviate thirst, as the sour taste stimulates saliva production.
Sourwood honey is highly prized and rare because the trees bloom for only a short period in mid-summer, requiring beekeepers to time their hive placements perfectly.
The common name 'Sourwood' and scientific name 'Oxydendrum' (sour wood in Greek) both refer to the acidic, sour taste of the leaves.
Habilidades especiales
Habilidad
Acidic Sap Defense
The leaves contain oxalic acid, giving them a sour taste that deters many generalist herbivores and insect pests.
Habilidad
Late-Season Blooming
Unlike most forest trees, it blooms in mid-to-late summer, avoiding competition for pollinators and providing a vital late-season nectar source.
Habilidad
Vibrant Autumn Adaptation
Rapidly produces anthocyanin pigments in autumn, protecting its leaves from light damage as it resorbs nutrients before shedding.
Medidas y detalles
- Longitud
- 900-1800 cm
- Esperanza de vida
- 100-200 años
Dieta y alimentación
As a photosynthetic plant, sourwood produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and essential nutrients absorbed from acidic soil.
Alimentos principales
- Sunlight
- Water
- Carbon dioxide
- Soil minerals
Método de búsqueda
- Photosynthesis
Conexiones ecológicas
mutualism
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
Bees pollinate the flowers while harvesting nectar to produce famous sourwood honey.
host plant
Cecropia Moth
Hyalophora cecropia
The caterpillars of this giant silk moth feed on the leaves of the sourwood.
eaten by
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on the twigs and leaves of sourwood, especially during the winter.
Rasgos
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También conocido como
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Seguridad
Peligro
1/5 · Muy bajo
Todavía no hay notas especiales de seguridad.
Preguntas frecuentes
¿Cómo identificar a Sourwood?
La forma más fácil de identificar a Sourwood es usar la aplicación de identificación de naturaleza Snappit.
¿Cuál es el longitud de Sourwood?
900-1800 cm
¿Cuál es el esperanza de vida de Sourwood?
100-200 años
¿Qué come Sourwood?
As a photosynthetic plant, sourwood produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and essential nutrients absorbed from acidic soil.
¿Dónde se encuentra normalmente Sourwood?
Found in well-drained, acidic soils of upland deciduous forests, ridges, and slopes, often growing alongside oaks and pines.
¿Cómo caza Sourwood?
Photosynthesis
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