''Viburnum opulus'', the guelder-rose or guelder rose () is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the family

Adoxaceae Adoxaceae, commonly known as moschatel family, is a small family of flowering plants in the order Dipsacales, now consisting of five genera and about 150–200 species. They are characterised by opposite toothed leaves, small five- or, more rare ...

(formerly Caprifoliaceae) native to Europe, northern Africa and central Asia.

Description

''Viburnum opulus'' is a

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...

shrub growing to tall. The leaves are opposite, three-lobed, long and broad, with a rounded base and coarsely serrated margins; they are superficially similar to the leaves of some maples, most easily distinguished by their somewhat wrinkled surface with impressed leaf venation. The leaf

bud In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of a stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be spec ...

s are green, with valvate bud scales. The hermaphrodite flowers are white, produced in

corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial ...

s in diameter at the top of the stems; each corymb comprises a ring of outer sterile flowers 1.5–2 cm in diameter with conspicuous petals, surrounding a center of small (5 mm), fertile flowers; the flowers are produced in early summer, and

pollinated Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...

by insects. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

is a globose bright red drupe 7–10 mm diameter, containing a single

seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...

. The seeds are dispersed by birds.

Names

The common name 'guelder rose' relates to the Dutch province of Gelderland, where a popular cultivar, the snowball tree, supposedly originated. Other common names include water elder, cramp bark, snowball tree, common snowball, and European cranberrybush, though this plant is not closely related to the

cranberry Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus ''Oxycoccus'' of the genus '' Vaccinium''. In Britain, cranberry may refer to the native species '' Vaccinium oxycoccos'', while in North America, cranberry ...

. Some botanists also include the North American species '' Viburnum trilobum'' as ''V. opulus'' var. ''americanum'' Ait., or as ''V. opulus'' subsp. ''trilobum'' (Marshall) Clausen.

Phylogeny

''Viburnum opulus'' is a member of the '' Viburnum'' genus which contains 160 to 170 species. It is classified in the subsection Opulus, which usually contains 5 species. Phylogenetic analyses suggest the following relationship between those species:

Cultivation

''Viburnum opulus'' is grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries, growing best on moist, moderately alkaline soils, though tolerating most soil types well. Several cultivars have been selected, including 'Roseum', in which all the flowers are only of the larger sterile type, with globular flower heads. The shrub is also cultivated as a component of hedgerows, cover plantings, and as part of other naturalistic plantings in its native regions. It is naturalised in North America. The cultivars 'Notcutt’s Variety', 'Roseum' and the yellow-fruited 'Xanthocarpum' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Uses

The fruit is edible in small quantities, with a very acidic taste; it can be used to make jelly. It is however mildly toxic, and may cause vomiting or diarrhea if eaten in large amounts. The term 'cramp bark' is related to the bark's ability to reduce smooth muscle tightness. Relieving this type of muscle tightness is most often associated with relieving menstrual (period) cramps. However, the bark can also be used during pregnancy for cramps or pain and general muscle cramping.

Cultural meaning

Mentions of the viburnum can be found throughout

Ukrainian folklore Ukrainian folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in Ukraine and among ethnic Ukrainians. The earliest examples of folklore found in Ukraine is the layer of pan-Slavic folklore that dates back to the ancient Slavic mythology of the Easte ...

such as songs, decorative art, Ukrainian embroidery, and poetry. Its symbolic roots can be traced to the Slavic paganism of millennia ago. According to a legend, ''kalyna'' was associated with the birth of the Universe, the so-called ''Fire Trinity'': the Sun, the Moon, and the Star. Its berries symbolize one's home and native land, blood, and family roots. Kalyna is often depicted on Ukrainian embroidery: ritual cloths and shirts. In Slavic paganism kalyna also represents the beauty of a young lady, which rhymes well in the Ukrainian language: ''ka-ly-na – div-chy-na.'' The song ''Chervona Kalyna'' was the anthem of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen and the

Ukrainian Insurgent Army The Ukrainian Insurgent Army ( uk, Українська повстанська армія, УПА, translit=Ukrayins'ka povstans'ka armiia, abbreviated UPA) was a Ukrainian nationalist paramilitary and later partisan formation. During World ...

; along with these national liberating movements in 20th century guelder rose was established as a symbol of riflemen honor, and state independence. ''Viburnum opulus'' (''kalina'') is also one of the national symbols of

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

. 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 The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus '' Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with ...

it symbolises the passionate love of a beautiful maiden, since berries were always an erotic symbol in Russia. The bitter side of the red fruit also symbolizes love separation in Russian folk culture. The name of the Russian song '' Kalinka'' is a diminutive of ''Kalina.'' ''Viburnum opulus'' is also an important symbol of the Russian national ornamental wood painting

handicraft A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by one’s hand or by using only simple, non-automated re ...

style called Khokhloma. In Romanian, which has been influenced by East Slavic culture, ''Viburnum opulus'' is called ''călin''. Călin is also used as both a given name and a surname.

References

External links

#Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. Hodder & Stoughton. # Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan.
Flora Europaea: ''Viburnum opulus''

Plants for a Future: ''Viburnum opulus''
{{National symbols of Ukraine opulus Flora of Africa Flora of Asia Flora of Europe Garden plants Medicinal plants National symbols of Ukraine Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus