Ceanothiis herbaceus (Torr. & Gray ex S. Wats.) Shinners 



syn. C. herbaceous Raf. yar.pubescens (T. & G.) Shinners 



NEW JERSEY TEA 



Rhamnaceae 



A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 

 L FEDERAL STATUS 



a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. 



b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None; this study provides the basis 

 for recommending watch status. 



2. STATE: G5 SI (critically imperiled); this study provides the basis for 



changing rank to SH (known only from historic record). 



B. DESCRIPTION 



L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: New Jersey tea is 



a highly-branched shrub with stems up to 1 m (3.5 ft.) high (Figure 11). 

 The alternate, lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves are 2-6 cm long. 

 They have serrated edges and are glabrous on top but hairy beneath. 

 Numerous white flowers are bom in congested, rounded inflorescences 

 that terminate the growing branches. Each flower is ca. 2-3 mm high 

 with 5 calyx lobes and 5 petals that have a linear basal portion and a 

 hood-shaped blade. There are 5 stamens and a 3-lobed ovary. The fruit 

 is a glossy, brown, 3-lobed, globose capsule that is 3-5 mm wide. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Bushy shrub, up to 1 m tall. Leaves 

 oblong to elliptic, or lance-oblong to oblanceolate, 2-6 cm long, blunt 

 to subacute, crenate-serrate with young teeth glandular, veins arising 

 unevenly just above leaf base, upper surface glabrescent, lower surface 

 villous. Panicles several, terminating leafy branches of the season, on 

 peduncles 1-2 (5) cm long. Flowers are white; calyx lobes 5, 1 .6 mm 

 long, incur\'ed; petals 5, hooded, 1.5 mm long, clawed V2 length; 

 stamens 5; ovary 3-lobed; surrounded by disk 1.5 mm wide and usually 

 10-lobed. Capsules 3-4.5 mm wide, 3-lobed, without crests; seeds 

 about 2 mm long, surface smooth and glossy; brownish (Great Plains 

 Flora Association 1986). 



3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The combination of simple 

 alternate leaves, hood-shaped petals, and 3-lobed fruit help identify this 

 as Ceanothus. C. herbaceus can be distinguished from other members 



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