Viburnum Opulus

''Viburnum opulus'', commonly known as the guelder-rose, or guelder rose (), is an Old World species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae.

Description

''Viburnum opulus'' is a deciduous 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 buds are green, with valvate bud scales.

The hermaphrodite flowers are white, produced in corymbs in diameter at the top of the stems. Each corymb comprises a ring of outer sterile flowers in diameter with conspicuous petals, surrounding a center of small () fertile flowers. The flowers are produced in early summer and are pollinated by insects. The fruit is a globose bright red drupe in diameter, containing a single seed. The seeds are dispersed by birds.

Its fruit persists for an average of 200 days, and always bears 1 seed per fruit. Fruits average 88.0% water, and their dry weight includes 17.3% carbohydrates and 1.3% lipids.

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. 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 five species. Phylogenetic analyses suggest the following relationship between those species:

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to Europe, northern Africa, and central Asia. It is naturalised in North America.

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.

The cultivars 'Notcutt's Variety', 'Roseum' and the yellow-fruited 'Xanthocarpum' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Toxicity and uses

The fruit is edible in small quantities, with a very bitter 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 ripe fruit is often ignored by birds and avoided by humans due to a foul smell emitted when crushed, described by some as "musty socks" or "urine and vomit".

The term 'cramp bark' is related to the bark's use in traditional medicine for cramps, but there is no scientific evidence of its effectiveness for this use or any other.

In culture

Mentions of the viburnum can be found throughout Ukrainian folklore 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; along with these national liberating movements in 20th century guelder rose was established as a symbol of riflemen honor, and state independence.

In Russia the Viburnum fruit is called ''kalina'' (''калина'') and is commonly found in folklore. ''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 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 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

Bibliography

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Further reading

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

External links

Flora Europaea: ''Viburnum opulus''
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opulus
Flora of Algeria
Flora of Europe
Flora of temperate Asia
Garden plants
Medicinal plants
National symbols of Ukraine
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Plants described in 1753