Other Common Names:
Wild Raisin and Viburnum.
Withe-rod is very common in wooded areas throughout the province. It is a somewhat straggling bush, 2 to 12 feet high and seldom exceeding 1 inch in diameter. Its slender, whip-like branches, are ascending, forming a rounded bushy crown. It is abundant in swamps, wet barrens open low lands, and in all types of locations from peaty barrens to dry open areas and pastures.
The leaves are thick, leathery and rather dull green; the flowers, cream-white in color, are borne in broad-five rayed clusters 4 to 5 inches across. They are succeeded by abundant fruit turning from pale green into bright rose and then darkening into blue-black. The wood is of no commercial importance.
DESCRIPTION
LEAVES: Opposite, simple, oval in outline, narrow or rounded at the base, acute at the tip, thick in texture, dull green, devoid of hairs, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long.
FLOWERS: June-July, perfect, white, borne in broad flat clusters 2 to 4 inches across.
FRUIT: A drupe, spherical to oval, dark-blue, 1/4 of an inch in diameter, stone round or oval, flattened. Ripens in September.
TWIGS: Slender, smooth to rough, greyish, terminal bud light brown, lance-shaped, 1/3 to 1/2 an inch long, lateral buds similar.
BARK: Light grey, becoming dark grey, with darker patches.
WOOD: Moderately light, weak even-grained, diffuse-porous, creamy-white with lighter sapwood.
Copyright