Envoy at 05:13, 3 October 2007

2007-10-03T05:13:17Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Viburnum opulus''
| image = Kalina koralowa.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Plant with fruit
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Dipsacales]]
| familia = [[Adoxaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Viburnum]]''
| species = '''''V. opulus'''''
| binomial = ''Viburnum opulus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

'''''Viburnum opulus''''' ('''Guelder-rose''') is a species of ''[[Viburnum]]'', native to [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. Some botanists also treat the closely related [[North America]]n species ''[[Viburnum trilobum]]'' as a [[variety (biology)|variety]] of it (as ''Viburnum opulus'' var. ''americanum'' [[William Aiton|Ait.]]), or a [[subspecies]], ''Viburnum opulus'' subsp. ''trilobum'' (Marshall) Clausen. The name appears to have originated because a popular cultivar, the Snowball tree (see '''Cultivation and uses''') supposedly first originated in the [[The Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Guelderland]].<ref> The [[Reader's Digest]] Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain ''p.143''.</ref>

[[Image:viburnum_opulus.jpg|left|thumb|Flowers (left) and fruit]]
It is a [[deciduous]] [[shrub]] growing to 4-5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, three-lobed, 5-10 cm long and broad, with a rounded base and coarsely serrated margins; they are superficially similar to the leaves of some [[maple]]s, most easily distinguished by their somewhat wrinkled surface with impressed leaf venation. The leaf [[bud]]s are green, with are valvate bud scales.

The [[plant sexuality|hermaphrodite]] [[flower]]s are white, produced in [[corymb]]s 4-11 cm diameter at the top of the stems; each corymb comprises a ring of outer sterile flowers 1.5-2 cm diameter with conspicuous petals, surrounding a center of small (5 mm), fertile flowers; the flowers are produced in early summer, and [[pollination|pollinated]] by [[insect]]s. The [[fruit]] is a globose bright red [[drupe]] 7-10 mm diameter, containing a single [[seed]]. The seeds are dispersed when [[bird]]s eat the fruit, then deposit the seeds in another location in their droppings.

===Cultivation and uses===
[[Image:snowball_bush.jpg|left|thumb|Snowball bush]]
It is commonly grown as an [[ornamental plant]] for its flowers and berries, growing best on moist, moderately alkaline soils, though tolerating most soil types well. Several [[cultivar]]s have been selected, including 'Snowball' ("Snowball Tree"), in which all the flowers are only of the larger sterile type, making it more conspicuous, but it does not produce any fruit.

[[Image:snowball_bush_flowers.jpg|right|thumb|Snowball bush flowers]]
Snowball bush is a name often given to Viburnum opulus for its white clusters of flowers that appear in spring. There is some confusion, as there are a few other bushes, including other members of the Viburnum genus, also referred to as "snowball bush". It is [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] in North America, where it has been misleadingly re-named as "European Cranberrybush" (it is not a [[cranberry]]).

The fruit is edible in small quantities, with a very acidic taste; it can be used to make jelly. It is however very mildly toxic, and may cause vomiting or diarrhea if eaten in large amounts (Plants for a Future).

The dried bark is used in a tincture, known as "Cramp Bark," to alleviate painful menstrual cramps.

This herb is mainly used for treating feminine problems like menstrual cramps, postpartum discomfort, preventing miscarriages and internal hemorrhages and is used as a uterine sedative also.

==References==
{{commons|Viburnum opulus}}
{{reflist}}
*Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. Hodder & Stoughton.
*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan.
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Viburnum+&SPECIES_XREF=opulus&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Viburnum opulus'']
*[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Viburnum+opulus Plants for a Future: ''Viburnum opulus'']

[[Category:Dipsacales]]
[[Category:Flora of Europe]]
[[Category:Flora of Estonia]]
[[Category:Flora of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

Cramp Bark - Revision history

Envoy at 05:13, 3 October 2007