description
Viburnum opulus is a species of flowering plant in the Adoxaceae family
(formerly Caprifoliaceae). It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4–5 m (13–16
ft) tall. The leaves are opposite, three-lobed, 5–10 cm (2–4 in) 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 4–11 cm (2–4 in) 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 by insects. The fruit is a globose bright red drupe 7–10 mm diameter,
containing a single seed.
common names & nomenclature
The common name guelder rose relates to the Dutch province of Gelderland,
where a popular cultivar, the snowball tree, supposedly originated.
Also known as:
european cranberrybush, snowball tree, whitten tree, guelder rose, squaw bush, pimbina, water elder, king’s crown, may rose
