Viburnum
Encyclopedia : V : VI : VIB : Viburnum
Viburnum (Viburnum) is a genus of about 175 species of shrubs or (in a few species) small trees that were previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. Genetic tests by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group showed however that they are correctly classified in the moschatel family Adoxaceae.
They are native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with a few species extending into tropical montane regions in South America and southeast Asia. In Africa, the genus is confined to the Atlas Mountains.
The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire, toothed or lobed; cool temperate species are deciduous, while most of the warm temperate species are evergreen. The hairs are star-shaped.
The flowers are produced in corymbs 5-12 cm across, each flower white to cream or pink, small, 3-5 mm across, with five petals, strongly fragrant in some species. The gynoecium has 3 connate carpels with the nectary on top of the gynoecium. Some species also have a fringe of large, showy sterile flowers round the perimeter of the corymb to act as a pollinator target.
The fruit is a spherical or somewhat flattened berry, red to purple or blackish, containing a single seed; they are eaten by birds and other wildlife, and some are edible for humans (though many others are mildly poisonous to people). The leaves are sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Viburnum.
Cultivation and uses
Many species of viburnum have become popular as garden or landscape plants because of their showy flowers and berries. The hybrid Viburnum x bodnantense (V. farreri x V. grandiflorum) is particularly popular for its strongly scented pink flowers on the leafless deciduous shoots in mid to late winter. A popular evergreen species is Viburnum rhytidophyllum, grown mainly for its foliage effect of large leaves with a strongly wrinkled surface.In prehistory, the long straight shoots of viburnums were used for arrow-shafts, as those found with Ötzi the Iceman.
Species
About 150 species are known, including the following:
- Viburnum acerifolium - Maple-leaf Viburnum
- Viburnum atrocyaneum
- Viburnum betulifolium
- Viburnum bitchiuense
- Viburnum bracteatum
- Viburnum buddleifolium
- Viburnum burejaeticum
- Viburnum calvum
- Viburnum carlesii
- Viburnum cassinoides
- Viburnum cinnamonifolium
- Viburnum cordifolium
- Viburnum corylifolium
- Viburnum cotinifolium
- Viburnum cylindricum
- Viburnum dasyanthum
- Viburnum davidii
- Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood
- Viburnum dilatatum
- Viburnum edule
- Viburnum ellipticum
- Viburnum erosum
- Viburnum erubescens
- Viburnum farreri - Farrer's Viburnum
- Viburnum foetens
- Viburnum foetidum
- Viburnum furcatum
- Viburnum grandiflorum - Himalayan Viburnum
- Viburnum harryanum
- Viburnum henryi
- Viburnum hirtum
- Viburnum hupehense
- Viburnum ichangense
- Viburnum japonicum
- Viburnum kansuense
- Viburnum lantana - Wayfaring-tree
- Viburnum lantanoides - Hobblebush or Witch Hobble ([images])
- Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry
- Viburnum lobophyllum
- Viburnum macrocephalum
- Viburnum molle
- Viburnum mongolicum
- Viburnum mullaha
- Viburnum nudum
- Viburnum odoratissimum
- Viburnum opulus - Guelder Rose or Snowball-tree
- Viburnum orientale
- Viburnum phlebotrichum
- Viburnum plicatum
- Viburnum propinquum
- Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw ([images])
- Viburnum rafinesquianum
- Viburnum recognitum
- Viburnum rhytidophyllum - Crinkle-leaf Viburnum
- Viburnum rigidum
- Viburnum rufidulum - Rusty Blackhaw ([images])
- Viburnum sargentii
- Viburnum schensianum
- Viburnum sempervirens
- Viburnum setigerum
- Viburnum sieboldii
- Viburnum suspensum
- Viburnum sympodiale
- Viburnum ternatum
- Viburnum tinus - Laurustinus Viburnum
- Viburnum trilobum - Highbush Viburnum
- Viburnum urceolatum
- Viburnum utile
- Viburnum veitchii
- Viburnum venosum
- Viburnum wilsonii
- Viburnum wrightii
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.