Viburnum L.
Viburnum
Viburnums are found in North and South America, southeast Asia, and the Atlas Mountains of Africa. There are over 150 species. Previously, viburnums were classified as part of the honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family. Based on the results of DNA sequencing, they have recently been re-classified as part of Adoxaceae, which also includes elders and several herbaceous plants.
Plants: Viburnums are robust shrubs, or occasionally small trees, usually with multiple stems and branches.
Leaves: Variously shaped, often with serrated edges and prominent veins.
Flowers: Flowerheads have flat tops. Many of these plants are hermaphrodites—the flowerheads contain both a ring of sterile, larger flowers as well as a central region composed of smaller, fertile flowers. Flowers are white, cream-colored, or pink, with five petals.
Fruits: Flowerheads become clusters of brightly colored berries.
See this nicely done Viburnum species guide.
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Some viburnums. |
Online References:
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) · 9/13/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Dipsacales | Includes viburnum, honeysuckle, snowberry, beautybush, twinflower, many others |
| Family | Adoxaceae | Elders and viburnums |
| Genus | Viburnum | Latin for “a kind of shrub” |
Viburnum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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