year and older stem color u2014 n199b stem strength u2014 flexible when young less flexible once mature internode length u2014 about 1 cm trunk diameter u2014 about 1 7 cm at the soil line color u2014 200c bark u2014 does not exfoliate covered with many lenticels about 2 mm in diameter and 199d in color arrangement u2014 alternate shape u2014 ovoid with fused pubescent bud scales size u2014 about 4 mm in length and about 2 mm in width color u2014 199a arrangement u2014 alternate simple length u2014 about 4 5 cm width u2014 about 1 5 cm shape u2014 elliptical apex u2014 acute base u2014 cuneate margin u2014 entire texture upper and lower surfaces u2014 thick leathery glabrous venation pattern u2014 pinnate venation color upper and lower surfaces u2014 144c color of emerging foliage upper surface u2014 can be 178a 187a or any combination of these two colors color of emerging foliage lower surface u2014 148b color of mature foliage upper surface u2014 147a color of mature foliage lower surface u2014 146b petiole length u2014 about 4 mm petiole diameter u2014 about 1 mm fine pubescence u2014 165a in color petiole color upper and lower surfaces u2014 146c flower type and habit u2014 apetalous flowers with a pubescent 5 parted calyx are borne on short racemes from the leaf axils natural flowering season u2014 late winter approximately january to february in watkinsville ga individual flowers last approximately 1 week and are self cleaning the inflorescence is a raceme about 2 6 cm in length and 2 cm in width consisting of 4 to 10 flowers per raceme that are 179a in color a lateral branch may have 15 to 20 inflorescences flower.