Tamala palustris

Tamala palustris can appear as a slender tree, with a trunk between tall. The trunk is usually under in diameter. More commonly, however, it grows as a shrub with stems between . The dull brown bark is typically no more than thick, with fissures separating its surface into individual scales. The branches are stout, and when young, they are terete (have circular cross-sections) and slightly angled. During the tree's first two seasons, it is covered with a layer of rust-colored tomentum, which is significantly reduced after that time and completely gone in two or three years. The fruit is a small drupe (a single seed surrounded by flesh), oblong or rounded, and about long. The dense, reddish brown hairy coating on the leaves and branches readily distinguishes it from its relatives Tamala humilis and Tamala borbonia. ==Taxonomy==

Tamala palustris was initially described as Laurus carolinensis by François André Michaux in 1813, and then reassigned to Laurus carolinensis var. pubescens by Frederick Traugott Pursh. Constantine Samuel Rafinesque later described it as Tamala palustris in 1838. Charles Sprague Sargent later used the name Persea pubescens in 1895. In 1919, he revised its name to Persea palustris, due to the naming rules adopted by the International Botanical Congress, which stated that the first specific name must be used. In 2023, Rafinesque's Tamala was reintroduced after genetic studies showed a broadly-defined Persea to be polyphyletic. As a result Tamala palustris along with Tamala borbonia and Tamala humilis were separated into genus Tamala. Of these names, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System only recognizes Persea pubescens, Persea borbonia var. pubescens (given by Elbert Luther Little), Persea palustris, and Tamala pubescens (given by John Kunkel Small) as synonyms for Tamala palustris. The plant is commonly referred to as swamp bay or swampbay. ==Distribution and habitat==

Tamala palustris is distributed throughout the Southeastern United States and the Bahamas, found in eleven different US states, from Delaware to Southeast Texas. Its range heavily overlaps with that of the Tamala borbonia. ==Conservation==

Laurel wilt is a significant danger to Tamala palustris. It is caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, which is spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle, a nonnative species introduced to the United States (other species of ambrosia beetle can also carry it, but at lower levels). While laurel wilt affects other members of Lauraceae, swamp bay is particularly sensitive. It is more resistant to galls (swelling growths) than Tamala borbonia. ==References==