T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

Chionanthus L. (Oleaceae)

A genus of controversial circumscription, either (1) of only three species, limited to se. North America and e. Asia, or (2) if including Linociera, of about sixty species, primarily tropical.

One species occurs in North Carolina, Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe-tree). It is considered native.

Bark of Chioanthus virginicus
Bark of Chioanthus virginicus (Copyright W. Cook)
Twig of Chioanthus virginicus
Twig of Chioanthus virginicus (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Leaves of Chioanthus virginicus
Leaves of Chioanthus virginicus (Copyright W. Cook)
Flowers of Chioanthus virginicus
Flowers of Chioanthus virginicus (Copyright W. Cook)
Developing drupes of Chioanthus virginicus
Developing drupes of Chioanthus virginicus (Copyright W. Cook)
N.C. distribution of Chioanthus virginicus
N.C. distribution of Chioanthus virginicus

Chionanthus virginicus (Fringe-tree)
(Common; dry, mesic, or wet forests and woodlands, granitic flatrocks and domes, glades and barrens over various rocks [including granite, greenstone, etc.], swamp forests in the CP, rarely pocosins; Mt, Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-May, Fr: Jul-Sep)