Japanese Snowball (Viburnum furcatum)

Description

Viburnum furcatum (common names forked viburnum and scarlet leaved viburnum) is a species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae (formerly Caprifoliaceae). Growing to 4 m (13 ft) tall and broad, it is a substantial deciduous shrub with rounded oval bronze-green leaves, turning red in autumn. Scented white flower-heads resembling those of lacecap hydrangeas are borne in summer, followed by black fruits. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Viburnum is a genus of about 150-175 species of shrubs or (in a few species) small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny.It was previously included in the family Caprifoliaceae.The member species are native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with a few species extending into tropical montane regions in South America, Ukraine, Russia, and southeast Asia. In Africa, the genus is confined to the Atlas Mountains. In Ukraine, Viburnum opulus (kalyna) is seen as a national symbol, an emblem for both the Koliada festivities and the concept of young girl-s love and tenderness. It is the key element of the Ukrainian traditional wreath.The generic name originated in Latin, where it referred to V. lantana.The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire, toothed or lobed; cool temperate species are deciduous, while most of the warm temperate species are evergreen. Some species are densely hairy on the shoots and leaves, with star-shaped hairs.The flowers are produced in corymbs 5-15 cm across, each flower white to cream or pink, small, 3-5 mm across, with five petals, strongly fragrant in some species. The gynoecium has three connate carpels with the nectary on top of the gynoecium. Some species also have a fringe of large, showy sterile flowers round the perimeter of the corymb to act as a pollinator target.The fruit is a spherical, oval, or somewhat flattened drupe, red to purple, blue, or black, and containing a single seed; some are edible for humans, but many others are mildly poisonous. The leaves are eaten by the larvae of many Lepidoptera species.