Viburnum

Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of flowering plants in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae or its alternative name Viburnaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny. It was previously included in the honeysuckle family Caprifoliaceae.^[when?]

The member species are evergreen or deciduous shrubs or (in a few cases) small trees native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with a few species extending into tropical montane regions in South America and southeast Asia. In Africa, the genus is confined to the Atlas Mountains.

The generic name Viburnum originated in Latin, in which it referred to V. lantana.

The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire, with toothed or lobed margins. Cool temperate species are deciduous, while most of the warm temperate species are evergreen. Some species have densely hairy shoots and leaves covered in star-shaped hairs. Almost all species have stipules on petioles, except tropical species found in Malesia.

The flowers are produced in corymbs 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in) across. Each flower is white, cream or pink, small (3–5 mm across), and has five petals. Some species are strongly fragrant. The gynoecium has three connate carpels with the nectary located at the top of the gynoecium. Some species also have a fringe of large, showy sterile flowers around the perimeter of the corymb, serving as a pollinator target.

The fruit is a spherical, oval, or somewhat flattened drupe that is red, purple, blue, or black, and contains a single seed. Some fruits are edible, but many others are mildly poisonous. The leaves are eaten by the larvae of many lepidopteran species.

Around 165 species are described. A 2014 phylogenetic study proposed the following phylogenetic scheme and sections:

Lentago – Eastern North America