Thanks for identifying the plant! ThatÕs exactly what it is.

(Posted by another James Martin) I didn’t know the botanical name, which Laura has provided, but I believe it’s what’s locally called ‘dog fetter’, because it grows so thickly that it impedes dog travel. I’ve seen lots of it growing near streams in Rabun county. Looking up Laura’s suggestion on plants.usda.gov, I see that Leucothoe fontanesiana is the ‘highlands’ version of what they give a common name of ‘doghobble’.

Link for Leucothoe axillaris. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/leucothoe-axillaris/

Maybe a species in the Leucothoe genus? I can’t tell for certain which one this is. Check out the included link below is for Leucothoe fontanesiana https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/leucothoe-fontanesiana/