Viburnum

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. It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae. 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. 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. Around 165 species are described. A 2014 phylogenetic study proposed the following phylogenetic scheme and sections: V. clemensiae Kern Lentago – Eastern North America except for V. elatum in Mexico V. cassinoides L. – Witherod viburnum, wild raisin, Appalachian tea V. elatum Benth V. lentago L. – nannyberry V. nudum L. – possumhaw V. obovatum Walter – Small-leaf Virbunum V. prunifolium L. – blackhaw V. rufidulum Raf. – rusty blackhaw Punctata Viburnum lepidotulum Merr. & Chun Viburnum punctatum Buch.-Ham. Ex D. Don Euviburnum V. bitchiuense Makino V. buddleifolium V.