| Viburnum tinus | |
|---|---|
| Viburnum tinus by L. By Jacob van Huysum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Adoxaceae |
| Genus: | Viburnum |
| Species: | V. tinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Viburnum tinus L. |
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| Synonyms | |
Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus, Laurustinus Viburnum, or Laurestine) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Viburnum, belonging to the family Adoxaceae. Laurus signifies the leaves' similarities to bay laurel; tinus means "tenth born".
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It is a shrub (rarely a small tree) reaching up to 2-7 m tall, with a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are evergreen, persisting 2-3 years, ovate to elliptic, borne in opposite pairs, 4-10 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, with an entire margin. The flowers are small, white or light pink, produced from reddish-pink buds in dense cymes 5-10 cm diameter in the winter. The fragrant flowers are bisexual and pentamerous. The flowering period extends from October to June. Pollination is granted by insects. The fruit is a dark blue-black drupe 5-7 mm long.
There are three subspecies:
This plant is native to the Mediterranean area and Macaronesia. It grows spontaneously in southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Albania, Greece), in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya) and in the Middle East (Israel, Lebanon, Turkey). Is also present in the Azores and the Canary Islands.
It grows mainly in the mediterranean maquis and in the forests of oak. It prefers the shady, moist areas, at an altitude of 0–800 metres (0–2,600 ft) above sea level.
Viburnum tinus is a popular evergreen shrub widely cultivated for its winter flowering habit in regions with mild winters. Several cultivars have been introduced by the horticultural trade; mostly these are similar to the species, but with subtle variations in habit, leaf size or flower colour. As it tolerates pruning well it is often sold as topiary specimens, although even moderate clipping significantly reduces flowering ability.
In south-east Britain Viburnum tinus is the principal host of the viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni), the country's "number one pest species" according to the Royal Horticultural Society.[1]