New
Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus
Description: New
Jersey Tea is a native,
cool-season shrub belonging to the Rhamnaceae, or buckthorn, family and is one
of the four true prairie shrubs. It has an extensive rope-like root system.
Leaf: The leaves are alternate, ovate to oblong, up
to 6 centimeters long, and up to 3 centimeters broad. They are usually hairy on
the lower surface.
Flower: The white flowers occur in terminal
clusters. The dark green alternate leaves are finely-toothed and hairy on the
lower surface. The mature black seeds shatter and fall a week or two after
maturity.
Blooming months: July- August
Discussion:
Historically, the dried leaves of New
Jersey tea served as a
substitute for British tea during the American Revolution. The flowers, when
moistened with water, served as a substitute for soap. The root yields a red
dye, hence another common name, red root. The extensive rope-like root system
made plowing difficult for the pioneers who broke the prairie sod. The root
stock was almost impossible for oxen to rip out. The pioneers needed axes and
shovels to deal with this “pesty” root.
Distribution:
New Jersey
Tea occurs in dry, open woods, rocky slopes, and prairie borders. This species
is found across southern Canada
from Quebec
to Manitoba,
south to Texas
and Georgia.
Native
or Introduced to Illinois: Native
Location:
N41048.677’ W089040.972’
Copyright:
© 2004 Nancy Trainor, Challand Middle School,
Sterling, Illinois
ntrainor@sterlingschools.org
References:
Keller, Carolyn. Prairie Plants of Whiteside County, Whiteside IL County Natural Area Guardians, 1991.
Ladd, Doug. Tallgrass
Prairie Wildflowers, The Nature Conservancy, 1995.
Peterson, Roger Tory. Wildflowers Northeastern/North Central North America,
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1968.
Mohlenbroch, Robert H., and John W. Voigt. Prairie
Plants of Illinois, Department of Conservation.
http://plants.usda.gov/
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