Shrub or small tree to 10 m; petioles and to some extent the lvs and cymes red-brown-tomentose, especially when young; petioles ±wing-margined, especially toward the base; lvs firm, shining, elliptic to obovate, 5-8 cm, rounded to acute at apex, serrulate, broadly acute to less often rounded at base; cymes sessile, (3)4-rayed, 5-10 cm wide; cor ca 8 mm wide; fr sweetish to tart, mostly blue to purple, glaucous, ellipsoid, 10-15 mm; cal-tube not produced at the end of the fr; 2n=18. Dry or rocky woods and banks; s. Va. to s. O., Mo., and Kans., s. to Fla. and Tex. Apr., May.

Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

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