This northeastern species was collected by JC (KY) at the northwest end of the second knob north/west of Ravenna (ESTI), together with Paxistima canbyi (Campbell et al. 1989). There is also a possible coll. from BELL on Cumberland Mt. (T. Patrick #5331 at TENN). A. spicata is a small rhizomatous shrub, usually no more than about 1 m tall with a maximum of about 2 m (FNA 9); most other eastern species (except obovalis and nantucketensis) generally reach 1-25 m. It also differs from most other species in eastern North America (laevis, arborea, canadensis, intermedia and obovalis but not sanguinea) as follows (FNA 9, W): ovary summit densely lanuginose (versus glabrous or sparsely pubescent); petals 6-10 x 2.5-5 mm (versus 6-20 x 2-7.5 mm); leaf blades oval to orbiculate (versus elliptic to ovate to obovate), mostly 3-5 x 2-3 cm (versus 3-7 x 2-4 cm), the apex acute to obtuse (versus acuminate, acute or obtuse), the margins with mostly 3-9 teeth per side on proximal half (versus 11-21), the lower surface densely tomentose when expanding (versus glabrous or tomentose). The correct name for this species has been uncertain until recent revision (FNA 9). Variation needs further study; reported 2n = 54 and 68, and there appear to be occasional hybrids with most other eastern species. The coll. from BELL is vegetative but suggests a hybrid with arborea: a "small tree to 4 m" with leaves small and suborbicular but their apices more or less acuminate. The southern range of spicata remains poorly documented (K, W, FNA 9). There do appear to be colls. from the Cumberland Plateau of Tenn. in Cumberland Co. (APSC), Fentress Co. (APSC), Marion Co. (TENN); perhaps Loudon and Morgan Cos. (TENN). However, reported plants in Ala. and Ga. may be confused with A. obovalis (Mich.) Ashe, the close, dwarfed southern relative of canadensis.