Viburnum molle

Viburnum molle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Viburnum
Species:
V. molle
Binomial name
Viburnum molle

Viburnum molle, commonly called softleaf arrowwood,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the moschatel family (Adoxaceae). It is native to the eastern United States, where it restricted to the Midwest and Upper South.[2] Its distribution is scattered, and populations occur in disjunct clusters.[3] Its natural habitat is in rocky bluff forests over calcareous soil, and in adjacent bottomlands.[4][5]

Viburnum molle is a woody shrub that spreads by underground runners. It produces clusters of small white flowers in late spring. It has distinctive papery bark which peels off in sheets.[5] Although it bears a superficial resemblance to the more widespread Viburnum dentatum, it can be distinguished by its ovate-orbicular leaves with strictly cordate leaf bases, its prominent long-filiform stipules, and its ellipsoid fruit.[4][6]

  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Viburnum molle​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Viburnum molle". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  3. ^ Alan Weakley (2015). "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States".
  4. ^ a b Viburnum molle Ohio Division of Natural Resources
  5. ^ a b Yatskievych, George (2006). Flora of Missouri, Volume 2. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. pp. 789–790.
  6. ^ Chester, Edward (2015). Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.