Species: Viburnum lentago L.

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Viburnum lentago L.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Caprifoliaceae

Genus:

Viburnum

Species Synonyms:

Viburnum X vetteri Zabel

Common Names:

nannyberry
sweet viburnum
sheepberry

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southeastern Saskatchewan - New Brunswick

Saskatchewan:

southeastern Saskatchewan; Gainsborough, Pinto

Ecoregion:

Moist Mixed Grassland, Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

moist, shady deciduous woods

Associated species:

Acer negundo, Alnus incana, Alnus viridis var. crispa, Amelanchier alnifolia Cornus sericea ssp. sericea, Crataegus chrysocarpa, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Prunus virginiana, Ribes americanum, Ulmus americana, Rosa woodsii

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G4 S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Viburnum lentago is threatened in Saskatchewan because it is uncommon. This species is restricted to two general regions of the province. Most local populations are small and the occurrences are highly infrequent and sporadic.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

to 5 m tall

Stems:

shrub, bark gray to reddish brown, with lenticels; pith white; winter buds with a pair of outer scales

Leaves:

opposite; petiole narrowly undulate, pubescence stellate and reddish-brown; blades 5 – 9 cm long, 3 – 6 cm wide, ovate, apex acute to caudate, base cuneate to truncate, midvein conspicuous and yellow, venation pinnate, lateral veins curved, glabrous

Inflorescence:

cyme sessile, umbelliform, 5 – 12 cm broad; rays 3 – 5, scurfy; marginal flowers fertile, not differentiated

Flowers:

calyx ~0.5 mm long, glabrous; corolla 2 – 4 mm long, whitish; stamens exserted

Fruits:

drupe 10 – 14 mm long, purplish, with or without whitish bloom, pulpy calyx and stigma persistent; stone ovoid, flattened, yellowish, with sharp, pointy projections

*KEY TO VIBURNUM* IN SASKATCHEWAN**

1 Some leaves three lobed; leaves palmately 3 – 5 nerved; fruit red or orange	2
1 All leaves without lobes; leaves pinnately veined; fruit purple or black	3

2 Marginal flowers of cyme large and showy, sterile; majority of leaves deeply three-lobed; inflorescences subtended by two pairs of leaves	V. opulus var. americanum
2 Marginal flowers of cyme not enlarged; majority of leaves not deeply three-lobed; inflorescences subtended by one pair of leaves	V. edule

3 Leaf margins dentate and ciliolate; lateral veins of leaves straight; stalk not undulate-winged	V. rafinesquianum
3 Leaf margins serrate; lateral veins curved; stalk undulate- winged	V. lentago