The natural history of the northwoods . Trunk forks near the ground into several branches that spread horizontally in layers.
Leaves alternate, mainly at the end of the twigs.
Fruit a berrylike drupe. Newfoundland through New England to Florida Panhandle, west to the north shore of Lake Superior and eastern Minnesota and south through the Midwest to Arkansas and Mississippi. Moist woodlands, along forest margins, on stream and swamp borders, and near deep canyon bottoms. Grows best on deep well-drained soils. Fire probably top-kills the plant.