What is it Wednesday: December 9, 2020

 

Can you identify what's in this photo?

 

 

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

 

 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

 

 

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on

December 9, 2020. 

 

 

 

And the answer is....

 

These are the seeds of a shrub called Carolina allspice. 

Carolina allspice is native to southeastern North America, so we are a little north of its natural range. But part of Lutherlyn’s property used to be part of Eisler Nurseries – in those areas it is not uncommon to run into unusual plants in the forest, that were planted years ago as part of the nursery. This is one of those plants.

Carolina allspice is a dense shrub that grows to about 6-9 feet tall with dark green oval leaves. Its flowers  with narrow dark-burgundy petals blooms in June. (maybe a future What is it Wednesday feature!) 

Late in the summer, seedpods form and remain on the twigs throughout the winter. Breaking open the seedpods reveal the large brown seeds inside. 

While the seeds, leaves, flowers and twigs are all fragrant, many parts of the plants are toxic, especially in large amounts.  However the bark has been dried, ground, and used as a cinnamon-like spice. It was more common for the twigs and leaves to be used as an air freshener and pieces were even tucked into clothing as a perfume. 

Carolina allspice makes a nice native garden shrub. It is low-maintenance and tolerates many types of conditions, and the leaves, flowers, branching pattern, and seedpods are all attractive.

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!