About Sideroxylon tenax L.
Sideroxylon tenax, commonly known as the tough bully, is a plant species native to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and the southernmost region of North Carolina. It grows in dry, sandy soil within pine forests, pine-oak woodlands, and hummocks, at elevations below 100 m.
This species grows as a shrub or tree that can reach up to 8 m (almost 27 feet) in height. Its stems are equipped with thorns. Leaves can grow up to 7 cm (2.8 inches) long; their upper surface is green and sometimes shiny, while the underside is covered in a layer of brown hairs. The flowers are white, reaching up to 5 mm (0.2 inches) across, and grow in clusters that can contain up to 40 individual flowers. The berries are very dark purple (almost black), spherical to egg-shaped, and measure around 10 mm (0.4 inches) across.
