Envoy at 13:10, 10 September 2007

2007-09-10T13:10:02Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Beautyberry
| image = Purple Beautyberry Callicarpa dichotoma 'Early Amethyst' Berries Closeup 2875px.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Callicarpa dichotoma'' 'Early Amethyst' (Purple Beautyberry)
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Verbenaceae]]
| genus = '''''Callicarpa'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''About 40; see text''
}}

'''Beautyberry''' ('''''Callicarpa''''') is a [[genus]] of [[shrub]]s and small [[tree]]s in the family [[Verbenaceae]]; between 40-150 species are accepted by different botanists. They are native to east and southeast [[Asia]] (where the majority of the species occur), [[Australia]], southeast [[North America]] and [[Central America]].

The temperate species are [[deciduous]], the tropical species [[evergreen]]. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, opposite, and 5-25 cm long. The [[flower]]s are in clusters, white to pinkish. The [[fruit]] is a [[berry]], 2-5 mm diameter and pink to red-purple with a highly distinctive metallic lustre, are very conspicuous in clusters on the bare branches after the leaves fall. The berries last well into the winter or dry season and are an important survival food for [[bird]]s and other animals, though they will not eat them until other sources are depleted. The berries are highly astringent, and considered unfit for human use. ''Callicarpa'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Endoclita|Endoclita malabaricus]]'' and ''[[Endoclita|Endoclita undulifer]]''.

[[Image:Beautyberry.jpg|left|thumb|''Callicarpa americana'' (American Beautyberry)<br>[[Hemingway, South Carolina]]]]
'''American Beautyberry''' ''Callicarpa americana'' is native to the southeastern [[United States]]. It can typically reach 1-2 m in height.

'''Bodinier's Beautyberry''' ''Callicarpa bodinieri'', native to west-central [[China]] ([[Sichuan]], [[Hubei]], [[Shaanxi]]) is more cold-tolerant than ''C. americana'', and is the species most widely cultivated in northern areas like the [[British Isles]]. It can reach 3 m tall.

'''Japanese Beautyberry''' ''Callicarpa japonica'', native to [[Japan]], is also cultivated in gardens. It is called ''Murasakishikibu'' in Japanese, in honor of [[Murasaki Shikibu]].

Other species include:
*''[[Callicarpa cathayana]]'' (China)
*''[[Callicarpa dichotoma]]'' (China, Japan)
*''[[Callicarpa formosana]]'' (Taiwan)
*''[[Callicarpa kwangtungensis]]'' (southern China)
*''[[Callicarpa longifolia]]'' (China)
*''[[Callicarpa macrophylla]]'' (India to Malaysia)
*''[[Callicarpa mollis]]'' (Japan, Korea)
*''[[Callicarpa nudiflora]]'' (southern China, southeast Asia; a small tree to 10 m tall)
*''[[Callicarpa pedunculata]]'' (northern Australia)
*''[[Callicarpa rubella]]'' (southeast Asia)
*''[[Callicarpa shikokiana]]'' (southern Japan)

===Uses===
{{Sect-stub}}
'''American beautyberry''' or ''Callicarpa americana'' has been found to be a natural insect repellant. Three chemicals have been isolated that appear to be the active ingredients; [[callicarpenal]], [[intermedeol]], and [[spathulenol]]. It has found to be repellant to the [[mosquitoes]] which carry [[yellow fever]] and [[malaria]], as well as the [[tick]] which carries [[Lyme disease]]. The discovery and use of callicarpenal has been patented by the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agriculture Research Service]].<ref>{{cite magazine | publisher = [[Agricultural Research Service]] | date = Feb 06 | journal = Agricultural Research | title = Learning from our elders: Folk Remedy Yields Mosquito-Thwarting Compound | url = http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/feb06/mosquito0206.htm}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060703091932.htm Scientists Confirm Folk Remedy Repels Mosquitoes] [[University Of Mississippi]] (ScienceDaily) [[July 3]] [[2006]]
{{commons|Callicarpa}}

[[Category:Verbenaceae]]

Beautyberry - Revision history

Envoy at 13:10, 10 September 2007