Viburnum

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Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of flowering plants in the moschatel family Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny.[2] It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae.[1]

The member species are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or (in a few cases) small trees 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 generic name Viburnum originated in Latin, where it referred to V. lantana.[3][4]

The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire, toothed or lobed; cool temperate species are deciduous, while most of the warm temperate species are evergreen. Some species are densely hairy on the shoots and leaves, with star-shaped hairs.

The flowers are produced in corymbs 5–15 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 three connate carpels with the nectary on top of the gynoecium. Some species also have a fringe of large, showy sterile flowers around the perimeter of the corymb to act as a pollinator target.

The fruit is a spherical, oval, or somewhat flattened drupe, red to purple, blue, or black, and containing a single seed; some are edible for humans, but many others are mildly poisonous. The leaves are eaten by the larvae of many Lepidoptera species.

Birds eat the berries of Viburnum obovatum (also called Walter Viburnum after Thomas Walter).[5]

Around 165 species are described. A 2014 phylogenetic study[6] proposed the following phylogenetic scheme and sections:

V. clemensiae

Lentago (7 species)

Punctata (2)

Euviburnum (15)

Pseudotinus (4)

Solenotinus (22)

V. amplifolium

V. colebrookeanum

V. garrettii

V. junghunii

V. laterale

V. pyramidatum

V. lutescens

Tomentosa (2)

V. amplificatum

Urceolata (2)

Tinus (8)

V. acerifolium

V. kansuense

V. orientale

Succotinus (34)

Coriaceae (3)

Sambucina (10)

Opulus (5)

Mollotinus (5)

Dentata (3)

Oreinotinus (30)

Lentago – Eastern North America except for V. elatum in Mexico[7]

Punctata

Euviburnum

Pseudotinus – Asia, except V. lantanoides in Eastern North America[7]

Solenotinus – Asia, extending west to India and south to Indonesia[7]

Lutescentia (excluding Tomentosa)

Tomentosa – China, Japan[7]

Amplicrenotinus (excluding Crenotinus)

Urceolata

Tinus – Asia, except V. tinus in Europe[7]

Corisuccotinus (excluding Succotinus and Coriaceae)

Succotinus

Coriaceae

Sambucina

Opulus – Circumboreal[7]

Mollotinus

Dentata – Mexico, Caribbean, and Central and South America[7]

Oreinotinus – Mexico, Caribbean, and Central and South America[7]

Undetermined

Many species of viburnum have become popular as garden or landscape plants because of their showy flowers and berries, fragrance, and good autumn colour of some forms. Some popular species, hybrids, and cultivars include:[10]

The cultivars 'Pragense'[11] and 'Eskimo',[12] of mixed or uncertain parentage, have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

In prehistory, the long, straight shoots of some viburnums were used for arrow-shafts, as those found with Ötzi the Iceman.

The fruit of some species (e.g. V. lentago[13]) are edible and can be eaten either raw or for making jam, while other species (e.g. V. opulus[14]) are mildly toxic and can cause vomiting if eaten in quantity.

The bark of some species is used in herbal medicine, as an antispasmodic and to treat asthma.[14]

In Ukraine and Russia Viburnum opulus is an important element of their traditional folk cultures. In Ukraine, Viburnum opulus (kalyna) is seen as a national symbol, an emblem for both the Koliada festivities and the concept of young girl's love and tenderness. It is the key element of the Ukrainian traditional wreath.[15][16] In Russia the Viburnum fruit is called kalina (калина) and is considered a national symbol. Kalina derived in Russian language from kalit' or raskalyat', which means "to make red-hot". The red fiery color of the berries represents beauty in Russian culture and together with sweet raspberries it symbolise the passionate love of a beautiful maiden, since berries were always an erotic symbol in Russia.[17] The name of the Russian song Kalinka is a diminutive of Kalina. Viburnum opulus is also an important symbol of Russian national ornamental wood painting handicraft style called Khokhloma.