Mountain Silverbell is a shrub, small tree, or large tree most common in the southwestern quarter of North Carolina. Two varieties exist, var. tetraptera (Common Silverbell), which is a shrub or small tree mostly found along streams in the Mountains and Piedmont, and var. monticola (Rehder) Reveal & Seldin (Mountain Silverbell), which is a large tree of cove forests in the higher Mountains. Flower size also differs between the two varieties: var. tetraptera has smaller flowers (petals <2 cm long) with the style excerted; var. monticola has larger flowers (petals 2-3 cm long) with the style included.

The tree in the first four photographs here is var. tetraptera.

Franklin, Macon Co., NC 5/13/06.

Leaf detail. The finely serrate leaves are paler and pubescent below.

H. tetraptera is the only species of Halesia in NC; this species has been confused with H. carolina in older floras, such as Radford et al.

Franklin, Macon Co., NC 5/13/06.

Unripe fruits. The four-winged fruit, technically a drupe, is dry when ripe.

Since Halesia is named for a Mr. Hales, it should be pronounced Heylz'-ee-ah, though Huh-lee'-zee-ah is more commonly heard.

Franklin, Macon Co., NC 5/13/06.

Bark detail of the same tree (var. tetraptera).

Franklin, Macon Co., NC 5/13/06.

Flowers of var. monticola.

Clay Co., NC 5/13/06.

Bark of a small tree of var. monticola.

Clay Co., NC 5/13/06.