Florida. Walton Co.: Voucher specimen from containerized plant at Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Mills River, NC (leaves and stem collected 19/7/2012), [living plant originally collected 25 Mar 2011 by Ron Miller from Walton Co., Florida], 2011-088, 19 Jul 2012 (V), Nathan Lynch 70 (Holotype: NCSC-00102544^m, here designated). Figs 1C, 3A, 7, 9.

Fothergilla milleri is morphologically most similar to F. gardenii, but differs from the latter by leaves held erect (vs. spreading in F. gardenii), blades blue-green or gray-green (vs. green in F. gardenii), petioles 1/3–1/2 the length of the IL (vs. ¾ the length of the IL or longer in F. gardenii), and seed apices acute to acuminate (vs. rounded or obtuse in F. gardenii).

Shrub, rhizomatous, erect, to 1.5 m tall, clump-forming, multi-stemmed, branching. Leaves: stipules ovate to lanceolate, 2.5–7.8 × 1.0–3.0 mm; petioles 2.6–8.0 mm long, usually 1/3–1/2 the length of the IL, brown-yellow pubescent; blades erect, blue-green to gray-green, obovate, 3.2–8.0 × 3.0–4.8 cm, pinnately 8–10-veined, bases rounded to truncate, margins crenate to serrate above middle and mostly near the apex, sometimes appearing crenate to entire, apices mostly obtuse to acute, both surfaces conspicuously stellate-pubescent, sometimes sparsely so, abaxial surface not glaucous, IW:IL < or = 0.48 (x̄ = 0.29). Inflorescences appearing before leaves, spikes on short peduncles or sessile. Flowers: stamens 15–22, filaments 4.3–10 mm long. Capsules 7.0–9.0 × 5.0 –7.0 cm. Seeds usually completely brown to red-brown, ovoid, 4.5–6.2 × 2.4–3.2 mm, apices acuminate, often recurved. Genome size and ploidy: 1.70–1.78 pg, diploid (2n = 2x = 24).

Flowering beginning late Mar; fruiting late May through the end of Jul.

This species can be found in the panhandle of Florida, in Alabama in the Gulf coastal plain, and is also known from one county in Georgia (Fig. 5). This species is found in sandy peat shrub bogs, seepages, dry longleaf pine woodlands, and the edge of Cyrilla racemiflora or Taxodium ascendens swamp forests. Plant associates include Acer rubrum, Arundinaria tecta (Walter) Muhl., Clethra alnifolia, Hibiscus aculeatus Walter, Hypericum cistifolium Lam., Juncus trigonocarpus Steud., Dichanthelium scoparium (Lam.) Gould., Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl, Rhexia virginica L., Rhynchospora chalarocephala Fernald & Gale, and Xyris fimbriata Elliott (fide colectoris).

The species is named in honor of Dr Ron Miller, Pensacola, Florida, who championed this project, originally suggested that diploid cytotypes might still exist, and ultimately found them. Dr Miller’s extensive effort and field work (with colleagues) provided the foundation for this research and establishment of ex situ living collections, including accessions in the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System.

The conservation status of this species must be reassessed. It is presently known from only seven counties, and would appear to have an imperilment status at least as severe as that of F. major. Consequently, only skeletal collections data are provided below.

[(V) = vegetative only, (FL) = in flower, (FR) = in fruit].

Alabama. Baldwin: 2011-087, 21 Mar 2012 (FL), Lynch 1 (NCSC); 2011-087, 2 Jul 2012 (V), Lynch 68 (NCSC^m); 2011-087, 13 Jun 2014 (FR), Phillips 58 (NCSC); 16 Jun 1984 (FR), Hedges 156 (UWFP^m); 19 Apr 2001 (FR), Schotz 1830 (UNA [online!]). Covington: 25 Jun 1906 (FR), Harper 108 (NY [online!]). Escambia: 11 Apr 1964 (FL), Kral 19698 (AUA^m). Geneva: 25 Jul 1968 (V), Kral 32029 (VDB^m); 26 Apr 1969 (FL), Kral 34524 (VDB^m); 7 Sep 1994 (V), Simmers s.n. (HTTU [online!]). Monroe: 15 Jun 1959 (V), Grelen s.n. (FLAS^m).

Florida. Okaloosa: 2011-083, 21 Mar 2012 (FL), Lynch 2 (NCSC); 2011-083, 2 Jul 2012 (FL), Lynch 67 (NCSC); 2011-083, 13 Jun 2014 (FR), Phillips 57 (NCSC^m); 20 Apr 1991 (FL), Burkhalter 12638 (FLAS^m, UWFP); 5 Aug 1990 (V), Burkhalter 12211 (UWFP^m); 13 Jul 1996 (V), Burkhalter 15064 (UWFP); 18 May 1993 (FR), Naczi 3028 (KNK [online!]). Walton: 8 Apr 1899 (FL), Biltmore Herbarium 7609b (FLAS^m); 2011-088, 28 Mar 2012 (FL), Lynch 11 (NCSU); 2012-060, 19 Mar 2013 (FL), Lynch 34 (NCSC); 2012-060, 2 Jul 2012 (V), Lynch 15 (NCSC); 2012-060, 13 Jun 2014 (FR) Phillips 59 (NCSC); 18 Aug 1990 (V), Orzell and Bridges 14757 (FLAS^m, NY [online!], USF [online!]).

Georgia. Taylor: 2011-178, 26 Mar 2012 (FL), Lynch 8 (NCSC); 2011-178, 2 Jul 2012 (V), Lynch 69 (NCSC^m).