Wayfaring Tree
Viburnum lantana Linnaeus
Wayfaring Tree: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/15640
Synonyms
Tags
Non-native Invasive

Map Snapshot

2 Records

GAALWAFRCLMOHOBABCHACEPGAACVCHSMKEQACNTADOWISOWO

Seasonality Snapshot

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MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/. Use of media featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

Source: Wikipedia

Not to be confused with Lantana.

Viburnum lantana
Foliage and immature fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Viburnum
Species:
V. lantana
Binomial name
Viburnum lantana
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Viburnum aragonense Pau
    • Viburnum farinosum Stokes
    • Viburnum lantana var. europaeum Aiton
    • Viburnum maculatum Pant.
    • Viburnum tomentosum Lam.

Viburnum lantana, the wayfarer or wayfaring tree, is a species of Viburnum, native to central, southern and western Europe (north to Yorkshire in England), northwest Africa, and southwestern Asia.[2][3][4] The vigorous deciduous European treelike shrub is common along waysides.

Description

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It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 4–5 m (13–16 ft) tall. The leaves are opposite, simple oval to lanceolate, 6–13 cm (2.4–5.1 in) Long and 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) broad, with a finely serrated margin; they are densely downy on the underside, less so on the upper surface. The hermaphrodite flowers are small, around 5 mm (0.20 in), and creamy-white, produced in dense cymes 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) width at the top of the stems; they are produced in early summer, and pollinated by insects. The fruit is an oblong drupe 8 mm (0.31 in) long, green at first, turning red, then finally black at full maturity, and contains a single seed. The seeds are dispersed when birds eat the fruit, then deposit the seeds in another location in their droppings.[3][4]

An older name for the plant is hoarwithy. "Hoar" means grey-haired and refers to the hairs under the leaves, and "withy" means a pliant stem.[5]

Showing simultaneous red (unripe) and black (ripe) fruits

Cultivation and uses

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It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for its flowers and berries, growing best on alkaline soils. A number of cultivars have been selected, including 'Aureum', with yellow leaves in spring.[4]

The fruit is of low to zero toxicity, but may cause vomiting or diarrhea if consumed unripe or in large quantities.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Viburnum lantana L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  2. ^ Flora Europaea: Viburnum lantana
  3. ^ a b Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2
  4. ^ a b c Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
  5. ^ Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain p.87.
  6. ^ Plants for a Future: Viburnum lantana
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