Viburnum nudum
Species of shrub
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Viburnum nudum is a deciduous shrub in the genus Viburnum within the family Viburnaceae (it was formerly part of the family Caprifoliaceae).[2]
| Viburnum nudum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Viburnaceae |
| Genus: | Viburnum |
| Species: | V. nudum |
| Binomial name | |
| Viburnum nudum | |
One variety of the species is Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides; synonyms for this variety Viburnum nitidum Aiton, Viburnum cassinoides, Viburnum cassinoides var. harbisonii, Viburnum cassinoides var. nitidum, and Viburnum nitidum.[2][3]
Common names for the plant include withe-rod, witherod viburnum, possumhaw, and wild raisin.[2]
Description
Range
Ecology
The fruit is eaten by wildlife, and deer browse the foliage.[5] It is a larval host to spring azures and hummingbird clearwing moths.[6]
Conservation status in the United States
It is listed as endangered in Kentucky and Pennsylvania[7] and as special concern species and believed extirpated in Connecticut.[8]
Native American ethnobotany
Cuisine
The Abenaki use the fruit[9]: 152 and the grains of var. cassinoides [9]: 173 for food. The Algonquin people eat the berries of var. cassinoides.[10]
Medicinal use
The Cherokee have several medicinal uses for Viburnum nudum var. cassinoides. They take an infusion of it to prevent recurrent spasms, use the root bark as a diaphoretic and a tonic, and take a compound infusion of it for fever, smallpox and ague. They also use an infusion of the bark as a wash for a sore tongue.[11]
Foliage and flowers
"Winterthur" foliage in early Fall
1913 Illustration[12]
