Croomia

The attribution to Louisiana (based on a single nineteenth-century collection) is doubtful (R. D. Thomas, pers. comm.). Apparently rare, Croomia pauciflora sometimes may be overlooked because of its superficial resemblance to juvenile forms of Smilax ecirrhata S. Watson and S. herbacea Linnaeus.

Rhizomes extensive, internodes 8–10 cm. Stems to 28 cm. Basal leaves 1–2, from rhizomes and proximal 5 cm of aerial stems, striate (from parallel veins). Cauline leaves distichous; petiole channeled, 3–4.5 cm; blade ovate, 7–8 cm, base cordate, margin scabrous, apex cuspidate-obtuse. Flowers: perianth ca. 1 cm wide; tepals caducous, greenish, often purple- tinged, ligulate to ovate; filaments thick; ovary ca. 1 × 1.5 mm; pedicel 8–11 mm, joint ca. 2/3 distance from base. Capsules globose, to 1 cm.

Ala., Fla., Ga., La.

Flowering spring.

Rich, sandy or rocky loam of mesic, wooded slopes and bottoms, usually in nearly neutral soils; 20--300m.

Cissampelos pauciflora Nuttall, J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 114. 1834

Croomia pauciflora is a plant species native to Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. Croomia pauciflora is generally found in rich loams in forests.

C. pauciflora is a perennial herb spreading by underground rhizomes. It has scale-like leaves around the base, and 3-6 cordate to elliptical green leaves at the tip of the stem. The greenish flowers are borne in a cyme.

The specific epithet pauciflora is Latin for 'few-flowered'.