Callicarpa americana

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American beautyberry
Callicarpa americana 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Callicarpa
Species:
C. americana
Binomial name
Callicarpa americana
L.

Callicarpa americana, commonly called the American beautyberry, is an open-habitat, native shrub of the Southern United States which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards. American beautyberries produce large clusters of purple berries, which birds and deer eat, thus distributing the seeds.

Contents

Uses

The raw berries, while palatably sweet, are suitable for human consumption only in small amounts, because they are astringent. Some people have reported mild stomach cramps after consumption. The berries are also used in jellies and wine. The roots are used to make herbal tea. As a folk remedy it has been claimed that "fresh, crushed leaves of American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana ... helped keep biting insects away from animals such as horses and mules". [2] A chemical compound isolated from the plant, callicarpenal, was effective as a mosquito repellent in a laboratory experiment using a simulated skin model. [3]

The berries ripen in September through October and are a favorite among wild bird species including cardinals, mockingbirds, finches, woodpeckers and more. Beautyberry is commonly planted in landscape designs to attract wildlife because of the food source the berries provide and the cover animals get from the shrub itself. [4] This plant is considered good for ornamental uses due to its requirement for little maintenance.

Distribution

The native range of C. americana extends from Maryland to Florida, west to Texas and Arkansas, and also Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Cuba. [5]

Characteristics

Plants with white berries are found in cultivation under the name Callicarpa americana var. lactea; [5] [6] [7] not all authorities recognize this as a distinct variety (in the sense of the botanical rank below subspecies). [8]

Propagation can be accomplished by making traditional cuttings; or germinating fully ripened (purple) seeds in pots or growing flats; or by scattering seeds on bare ground in a suitable area and lightly covering them or stepping on them to gently press them into the soil.

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<i>Callicarpa ampla</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Callicarpa bodinieri</i> Species of flowering plant

Callicarpa bodinieri, or Bodinier's beautyberry, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Callicarpa of the family Lamiaceae, native to West and Central China. Growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8 ft) wide, it is an upright deciduous shrub with dark green leaves turning red in autumn (fall). In midsummer, small lilac flowers are produced in the leaf axils. But it is grown in gardens primarily for its small, decorative purple berries in tight clusters in autumn.

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<i>Callicarpa cathayana</i> Species of flowering plant

Callicarpa cathayana is a species of beautyberry. It is grown in gardens and parks as an ornamental plant for its decorative pink flowers and berries. The purple berries are a drupe. They are not edible for humans. Birds eat the berries and disperse the seeds. The species are endangered in the wild. Callicarpa cathayana is native to China.

<i>Callicarpa acuminata</i> Species of flowering plant

Callicarpa acuminata is a species of beautyberry native to Latin America from Mexico to Bolivia. Unlike the other species of this genus, C. acuminata produces small berry-like fruits which can be dark-purple or dark blue-purple. The fruit can sometimes be white. The flowers blooms are white. The fruit grow in tight clumps and sometimes resemble grapes. They are cultivated as garden trees.

<i>Callicarpa rubella</i> Species of flowering plant

Callicarpa rubella is a species of beautyberry native to Southeast Asia. It is a shrub that produces pink or purple flowers followed by dark-purple berries. The berries are actually drupes. It is grown in gardens as an ornamental plant. The fruit attracts wildlife such as birds.

<i>Sambucus racemosa</i> Species of plant

Sambucus racemosa is a species of elderberry known by the common names red elderberry and red-berried elder.

<i>Callicarpa shikokiana</i> Species of flowering plant

Callicarpa shikokiana, commonly called Shikoku beautyberry or China beautyberry, is a plant species in the Lamiaceae and is native to China. It is a shrub with pink flowers in summer and purple fruit in the fall. The berry-like fruit is a drupe. It is cultivated in home gardens and national parks as an ornamental plant. The leaves turn yellow in the fall.

<i>Liriope muscari</i> Species of flowering plant

Liriope muscari is a species of flowering plant from East Asia. Common names in English include big blue lilyturf, lilyturf, border grass, and monkey grass. This small herbaceous perennial has grass-like evergreen foliage and lilac-purple flowers which produce single-seeded berries on a spike in the fall. It is invasive to North America and considered a threat to native wildlife.

<i>Flacourtia indica</i> Species of fruit and plant

Flacourtia indica (known commonly as ramontchi, governor's plum and Indian plum, is a species of flowering plant native to much of Africa and tropical and temperate parts of Asia. It has various uses, including folk medicine, fuel, animal food and human food.

<i>Vitis vulpina</i> Species of grapevine

Vitis vulpina is a North American species of herbaceous perennial vines in the grape family. It is widespread across most of the eastern and central United States as well as the Canadian Province of Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callicarpenal</span> Chemical compound

Callicarpenal is a terpenoid that has been isolated from plants of the genus Callicarpa (beautyberry). It acts as an insect repellent against mosquitoes and fire ants. It also has activity against ticks.

<i>Callicarpa</i> Genus of flowering plants

Callicarpa (beautyberry) is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Lamiaceae. They are native to east and southeast Asia, Australia, Madagascar, southeast North America and South America.

<i>Iris lactea</i> Species of plant

Iris lactea is a species in the genus Iris. It is also in the subgenus Limniris and is the only species in the series Ensatae. The Japanese water iris, Iris ensata, is actually in series Laevigatae. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from central Asia, with pale blue or violet flowers. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in temperate regions.

References

  1. Bárrios, S.; Copeland, A. (2021). "Callicarpa americana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T170648545A192147952. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T170648545A192147952.en . Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. Scientists Confirm Folk Remedy Repels Mosquitoes University of Mississippi (ScienceDaily) July 3, 2006
  3. "Learning from our elders: Folk Remedy Yields Mosquito-Thwarting Compound". Agricultural Research. Agricultural Research Service. February 6, 2006.
  4. "Wildlife Gardening: Beautyberry". Prepper Gardens. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  5. 1 2 American Beautyberry information
  6. "Callicarpa americana var. lactea F.J. Müll". Tropicos.
  7. "Callicarpa americana var. lactea". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  8. "Callicarpa americana var. lactea F.J. Muell., Taxonomic Serial No.: 532805". Integrated Taxonomic Information System .