Devil's Walkingstick
Individual leaflets are 2-3½" long and 1½-3" across; they are narrowly ovate to broadly ovate in shape, while their margins are serrated. The leaflet bases are narrowly rounded to rounded and often asymmetric, while their tips are somewhat elongated and narrow.
Flowers form in small clusters about ¾-1" across and globoid in shape, consisting of 12-20 flowers and their pedicels. Each flower is up to ¼" long, consisting of 5 triangular petals that are white, a short-tubular calyx that is light green. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late summer. The flowers are fragrant (reported to be lemony).
Afterwards, the flowers are replaced by small berries. At maturity during the autumn, these berries are about ¼" long, ovoid-globoid in shape, finely ribbed, and either dark blue or black. These berries have thin fleshy interiors and they contain 2-5 flattened seeds.
Habitats include upland woodlands, lowland woodlands, wooded slopes, wooded ravines, bluffs, woodland borders, wooded areas along streams, savannas, and thickets. Devil's Walkingstick prefers areas with a history of disturbance from occasional wildfires, logging, etc., as this reduces excessive shade from overhead canopy trees.