Trailing Arbutus

Epigaea repens, or mayflower and trailing arbutus, is an evergreen shrub found in the eastern United States from Nova Scotia to Florida (Coville, 1911: 711; Councilman, 1923: 279). In the 1920’s the Epigaea repens was severely exploited near large cities for its flowers (Councilman, 1923: 285).

Epigaea repens has an underground stem 2-4 cm in length and less than 1.5 cm in diameter (Councilman, 1923: 279). The roots extend in all directions and terminate in capillary roots that are 30-40 microns in diameter (Councilman, 1923: 279). Among the root cells of Epigaea repens is a fine mass of fungi (Councilman, 1923, 282). The fungus forms a mass called a glomerulus (Councilman, 1923: 282). Councilman (1923: 283-284) examined plants from Maine, Massachusetts and Maryland and discovered that the same fungus was present in the same location on the roots among all of the samples (Councilman, 1923, 283-284). The relationship between plant and fungus is not pathogenic because all the plants had the fungus and larger plants have more fungal glomeruli (Councilman, 1923: 284).

The white or pink flowers have a waxy texture (Councilman, 1923, 285). Epigaea repens is pollinated by insects such as butterflies and is a larval host for the Calllophrys polios and the Microtia elva (Lady Bird Johnson, 2014). Coville conducted a study involving growing Epigaea repens from seeds – something that had not been documented before (Coville, 1911: 711). Coville obtained seeds from New Hampshire in 1909 and grew them in Kalmia peat, sand, and Sphagnum in an attempt to mirror conditions in which blueberry plants excelled (Coville, 1911: 711). Epigaea repens fruit was not a dry fruit (loculicidal capsule) (Coville, 1911: 712). The fruit has five valves that open to reveal white tissue covered with small brown seeds and is 6.4 mm in diameter (Coville, 1911, 712). Epigaea repens exhibits myrmecochory in which black ants (Paratrechina and Monomorium) remove seeds and attached tissue from the fruits and deposit them under rocks and leaves (Clay, 1983: 167-168).

In the 1920’s, Epigaea repens was gathered and sold as bunches, and sold for as much as $25 a day (Councilman, 1923: 285). Unfortunately, the plant grows slowly, and often plants did not recover from its exploitation. Councilman believed (at that time) that within 20 years the plant would have been completely eradicated from most of the locations it was known to occur, and that it would only be found in estates where the public was excluded (Councilman, 1923: 285).

Epigaea repens has been used as medicine. The plant contains arbutin, an effective urinary disinfectant (Practical Plants, 2014). Mayflower can be used as a strong urinary antiseptic and an effective remedy for cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, bladder stones and acute catarrhal cystitis. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of kidney disorders, stomachaches, and bladder disorders (Practical Plants, 2014).

Epigaea repens L. Sp. PI. 395. 1753
Plants bright-green or sometimes purple-tinged, hirsute, the stems branched at the base, the branches creeping, 0.5-3 dm. long; leaves persistent, the blades leathery, oblong, ovate, oblong-ovate, or suborbicular, 2-10 cm. long, apiculate or acute, reticulate, ciliate, rounded or cordate at the base; petioles 6-50 mm. long; clusters f ew-many-flowered ; bracts ovate to lanceolate, acute; calyx glabrous or nearly so, the lobes lanceolate to ovate, acuminate, 5-9 mm. long; coroUa pink or white, the tube cylindric, nearly twice as long as the sepals, the lobes spreading, ovate, obtuse, or abruptly-pointed, about half as long as the tube, pubescent within; capsules spheroidal, pubescent, 7-9 mm. broad.
Type locality: Virginia.
Distribution: Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, and southward to Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan.

Epigaea repens, the mayflower, trailing arbutus, or ground laurel, is a low, spreading shrub in the family Ericaceae. It is found from Newfoundland to Florida, west to Kentucky and the Northwest Territories.