About Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britton ex Sarg.
Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britton ex Sarg. is an evergreen tree that usually grows 18 feet (5.5 m) tall, though some individual specimens can reach 45 feet (14 m). It has a crooked, multi-stemmed growth form, with dark, shiny, thick leaves, and clusters of fragrant flowers that range in color from white to pinkish. Its fruits are five-winged, yellowish drupes shaped like buckwheat, a feature that gives the species its common name. In its ecology, Cliftonia monophylla attracts pollinators including honeybees, and it is browsed by deer. There are no known edible or medicinal uses for this species.
