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Plant Profile

Texas Corkwood (Leitneria pilosa ssp. pilosa)

Leitneria floridana habitat: baccharis-invaded gulf cordgrass (Spartina spartinae) vegetation bordering brackish marsh. Photo Credit: William R. Carr

Global Rank: T2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Simaroubaceae
State: TX
Nature Serve ID: 877832
Lifeform: Shrub, Tree
Date Inducted in National Collection: 06/25/2002

Description:

Leitneria pilosa subsp. pilosa is one of two species of its genus found only on the Coastal Plain of the eastern United States. Corkwoods scattered range includes freshwater swamps, wetland thickets, pond habitats, brackish tidal streams and brackish marshes of coastal southeast Texas; extreme southeast Missouri; northeast and east-central Arkansas(Bogle, 1977; Kral, 1983; and Carr, W.R., 2003; Schrader and Graves, 2011). This unusual wand-like or tree-like shrub grows to 20 feet tall, has smooth reddish bark with buff-colored lenticels (Godfrey and Wooten, 1981; Correll and Johnston, 1979; Vines, 1960). Traditionally, the lightweight wood is used for making bobbers and floats for fishing (Noakes, 2001). Corkwood flowers in the spring from previous seasons wood before its leaves emerge. Usually a dioecious species, the male plants bear 2-5 cm long brownish staminate catkins whereas the female catkins are reddish and produce 1-2.5 cm long smooth, leathery drupes. The thick, firm leaves are 5-20 cm long and bear prominent veins. Leaves are deciduous, petiolate and arranged alternately. The leaves are simple and are narrowly elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate in shape with acute to acuminate tips. Corkwood reproduces asexually by means of suckers, spreads from extensive roots and may form dense colonies (Godfrey and Wooten, 1981; Correll and Johnston, 1979, Vines, 1960). FLOWER PHENOLIOGY: Flowers in March-April and fruits in April-August.

Where is Texas Corkwood (Leitneria pilosa ssp. pilosa) located in the wild?

Habitat:

L. pilosa is found in brackish or freshwater swamps and thickets (Correll & Johnston 1979; Godfrey and Wooten, 1981) and prefers low, moist, or poorly drained areas with sandy or silty soils in full or partial sun (Noakes 2001; Carr, W.R., 2003). The sites are typically hammocks, drier islands within marshes, swamps and estuaries. Sites often alternate between inundation with water and severe drought. Soils often have saltwater intrusion. Corkwood also grows along rivers and streams at scattered locales. The species is exceptionally flood tolerant and apparently able to survive complete inundation for long spells.

Distribution:

Texas

States & Provinces:

Texas Corkwood can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Texas Corkwood (Leitneria pilosa ssp. pilosa)?

Mercer Botanic Gardens

Conservation Actions

Center for Plant Conservation

08/03/2021

Schrader and Graves (2011) described a new species, Leitneria pilosa, and a new subspecies, L. pilosa subsp. ozarkana. They used leaf morphology, ISSR polymorphisms, ITS sequence character, and geographical isolation to make this determination. Their work showed that L. pilosa, which occurs as western disjunct populations in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, has undergone species-level divergence from plants of Leitneria floridana indigenous to Florida and Georgia.

09/18/2020

Horticultural germination and propagation protocols published in Noakes, 2001.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the southeastern and south-central United States, the species Leitnaria floridana is the only existing member of its order, family, and genus. It relictual distribution is scattered. Threats include land clearing and draining of swamps. Plants are intensely clonal, so some occurrences may represent a single genotype.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Since it is usually only found in wetlands, any threats to wetlands, like draining, would pose a threat to this species. Changes in hydrology resulting from road construction or off road vehicles may threaten stands of Leitneria floridana including those

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

undetermined

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Horticultural germination and propagation protocols published in Noakes, 2001.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Leitneria floridana is managed along with the federally endangered Lindera melissifolia in locales where the two species overlap in range. In Arkansas and Missouri colonies of both are being protected in state parks, National Forests, or other public natural areas.

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Careful site selection for reintroductions or rescues is needed. Plants transplanted from Angleton, Texas to two sites in 1972 resulted in 0 survivorship at one of two sites (Carr, 1998).

Dave Berkshire

01/01/2010

Seed banking and related propagation studies needed.