🍒 European Cranberrybush / Guelder-Rose / Viburnum opulus - Sing Along about Plants: ID & Taxonomy 🍒 скачать в хорошем качестве

🍒 European Cranberrybush / Guelder-Rose / Viburnum opulus - Sing Along about Plants: ID & Taxonomy 🍒

The Guelder-Rose Song (Verse 1) My leaves are like a maple, with lobes of three I'm a shrub of the hedgerow, as wild as can be In the late of the spring, when the days are long I burst into a lacy, white floral song A snowball of blossoms, a glorious sight A ring of big flowers, holding the small ones tight (Chorus) Oh, I'm the Guelder-Rose, the Viburnum tree My berries are red as a ruby can be But don't you eat them raw, or you'll soon feel sore The birds can have them when winter's at the door! (Verse 2) The Slavs call me a symbol of beauty and youth A symbol of love, and a teller of truth My bark has a power, a calming relief To ease away tension and soften the grief They call me "Cramp Bark" for the pain I can tame But using me wisely is part of the game (Chorus) Oh, I'm the Guelder-Rose, the Viburnum tree My berries are red as a ruby can be But don't you eat them raw, or you'll soon feel sore The birds can have them when winter's at the door! (Bridge) In autumn I put on my very best show My leaves turn to crimson before the cold snow And my berries hang shining, so translucent and clear A beacon of hope as the winter draws near For the hungry waxwing, a welcome delight To carry my seeds through the long, freezing night (Final Chorus) Oh, I'm the GUELDER-ROSE, the VIBURNUM TREE! My berries are red as a ruby can be! But don't you eat them raw, or you'll soon feel sore! The birds can have them when winter's at the door! (Outro) Viburnum opulus... beautiful, useful, but best admired from a slight distance. 🌿 European Cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus) Appearance & Size A large, deciduous shrub growing 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet) tall and wide. Leaves are maple-like, with three distinctive lobes, turning brilliant shades of red and purple in autumn. Flowers are showy, forming large, spherical "snowball" clusters (sterile cultivars) or flat-topped clusters with a ring of large, sterile flowers surrounding smaller, fertile ones. Fruit is a glossy, bright red, translucent berry (drupe) that hangs in dense clusters. Folklore & Cultural Tidbits The name "Guelder-Rose" comes from the Dutch province of Gelderland, where it was cultivated. In Slavic cultures, it is a symbol of youth, beauty, and maidenhood and is often mentioned in folk songs and used in wedding rituals. The red berries were sometimes called "cramp bark," alluding to one of its medicinal uses. Habitat & Range Native to Europe, northern Africa, and central Asia. Found in moist, rich soils in woodland edges, hedgerows, thickets, and along riverbanks. Bloom Time & Duration Flowers in late spring to early summer (May to July). The showy flower clusters last for several weeks. Lifecycle & Lifespan A hardy, deciduous perennial shrub. Can live for several decades, forming a dense, woody structure. Spread Mechanism Spreads by seed, primarily dispersed by birds that eat the fruit. Can also spread slowly by suckering from the base. Reproductive Sequence Flower → Fruit (drupe) → Seed → Germination (often after being digested by a bird). Fruit & Seed Description Fruit is a juicy, bright red drupe, about 8–10 mm in diameter. Each berry contains a single, large, flat seed. The fruits persist on the shrub long after the leaves have fallen. Colour & Size Changes of Flower, Fruit and Seed throughout the seasons if any In spring, new green, lobed leaves emerge, followed by lacy white flowers. In summer, the plant is fully leafed, and hard green berries form. In autumn, the foliage turns spectacular shades of red and purple, and the berries ripen to a vibrant, translucent red. In winter, the bare grey branches are adorned with hanging clusters of persistent red berries. Flower & Leaf Longevity The showy flower bracts last for several weeks. Leaves are deciduous, lasting from spring until the first hard frost in autumn. Photoperiod Behavior Flowers are open during the day. It is a long-day plant, flowering as days lengthen in late spring. Scent & Touch The flowers have a faint, somewhat unpleasant scent to some. The bark has a rough, grooved texture. Leaves are smooth. Toxicity The raw berries are mildly toxic to humans and can cause vomiting and diarrhea if eaten in quantity. The bark contains coumarins and other compounds with strong physiological effects. Edibility for Humans and Animals Humans: Berries are not edible raw. They must be cooked (e.g., into jams or jellies) to break down the toxins. They are extremely bitter when raw. Animals: Birds, like waxwings and thrushes, readily and safely eat the berries in winter, which is the primary dispersal method. Medicinal Uses The bark (known as "Cramp Bark") is used in herbal medicine as a muscle relaxant, specifically for relieving menstrual cramps and muscle spasms. It is an antispasmodic and astringent. WARNING: Should only be used under the guidance of a qualified herbalist or medical professional.