Leucothoe (plant)

Leucothoe is a genus of about 6 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to Asia and the Americas. Many species have the common name doghobble. Leucothoe species contain grayanotoxins, a group of closely related neurotoxins named after Leucothoe grayana, native to Japan. They are shrubs growing to 1–3 m tall, either deciduous or evergreen depending on species. The leaves are alternate, oblong-lanceolate, 2–15 cm long. The flowers are produced in racemes 3–15 cm long, each flower bell-shaped, 4–20 mm long, white or occasionally pink. Selected species Leucothoe axillaris (coastal doghobble; southeastern United States) Leucothoe davisiae (black laurel; Sierra Nevada, northern California & Oregon) Leucothoe fontanesiana (highland doghobble or drooping leucothoe; southeastern United States) Leucothoe grayana (Japan) Leucothoe griffithiana (eastern Himalaya, southwest China) Leucothoe keiskei (Japan) Leucothoe populifolia (southeastern United States) Leucothoe racemosa (swamp doghobble or sweetbells; eastern United States) Leucothoe recurva (redtwig doghobble; southeastern United States) Leucothoe tonkinensis (southern China, northern Vietnam)