This distinctive southeastern species is known for sure only from a few sites at Land-between-the-Lakes in TRIG (APSC), which is about the most northern locality in the Mississippi Valley (Phipps 1998; K). Following FNA 9, spathulata is the only species of Series Microcarpae. Characteristics include thin exfoliating bark that is "honey-colored" (FNA 9) or "multicolored green, brown, and brownish gray" (W); small spatulate or oblanceolate leaves (ca. 15-30 x 8-12 mm); relatively small fruit (ca. 3-5 mm across) and seeds (ca. 3-4 mm long).