858 



The Viburnums 



The bark is used medicinally like that of the Northern black haw, and is sold 

 indiscriminately as such. The plant is hardy as far north as southern New York, 

 and desirable for decorative planting. 



5. SMALL VIBURNUM— Vibnmnm obovatnm Walter 



Although usually a shrub, this sometimes becomes a tree with a slender tnmk 



9 meters in height. 



Its dark brown bark is rather rough. 

 The thick leathery leaves are smooth, dark 

 green and shining above, paler on the imder 

 side, 2 to 6 cm. long, obovate-cuneate or 

 oblanceolate, slightly scalloped towards the 

 notched or rounded apex, and narrowed 

 into a short leaf-stalk 2 to 4 mm. long. 

 The numerous perfect flowers, which open 

 from April to June, are clustered in small 

 sessile, 3- to s-rayed cymes 2.5 to 6 cm. 

 across; the white corolla is 5-lobed. The 

 fruit is a black oval drupe' 6 to 8 mm. long, 

 enclosing a lenticular stone which is fuUy 

 as broad as long and somewhat furrowed 

 on both sides. 



Fig. 781. — Small Viburnum. ^_ . ,, ,i c-. . c 



It occurs m the southern btates from 



Florida northward to Virginia, and gives ofif a strong scent that is quite charac- 

 teristic. 



NASH'S VIBURNUM — Viburnum Nashii SmaU 



This little known species was described from fruiting specimens foimd in the river swamps 

 of western Florida, where it is a small tree with spreading branches, reaching a height of about 

 5 meters. 



The thick, leathery leaves, more or less clustered on short spur-like branches, are 4 to 5 cm. 

 long, dgep green and shining on the upper surface, paler beneath, and vary from spatulate to 

 broadly obovate or suborbicular, the apex blunt or notched, and narrowed at the base into a 

 grooved leaf-stalk; margins more or less scalloped by small rounded teeth. The few-flowered 

 cymes are borne on the ends of the spur-like branches. The shining black fruit is oblong, 10 to 

 12 mm. long; stone flattened, oblong, much longer than broad. 



It apparently differs from the Small Vibumimi, mainly in the longer stone of the fruit, and 

 as this is known to vary considerably in other Viburnums, further study is needed to establish 

 its specific distinction. 



