Viburnum acerifolium

Viburnum acerifolium
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Dipsacales
Family:	Adoxaceae
Genus:	Viburnum
Species:	V. acerifolium
Binomial name
Viburnum acerifolium L.

Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leaf Viburnum or Dockmackie) is a species of Viburnum, native to eastern North America from southwestern Quebec and Ontario south to northern Florida and eastern Texas.

It is a shrub growing to 1-2 m tall. The leaves are in opposite pairs, 5-10 cm long and broad, three- to five-lobed, the lobes with a serrated margin. The flowers are white with five small petals, produced in terminal cymes 4-8 cm diameter. The fruit is a small red to purple drupe 4-8 mm long. It attracts butterflies and birds. The Viburnum acerifolium is a larval host to the Spring Azure butterfly.

The scientific and common names refer to the superficial similarity of the leaves to those of some maples (Acer); the plant is occasionally mistaken for young maples, but is readily distinguished by the flowers and fruit; the viburnum produces small, purple berries, while maples produce dry, winged seeds.

References

• Germplasm Resources Information Network: Viburnum acerifolium
• USDA Plants Profile: Viburnum acerifolium
• Bioimages: Viburnum acerifolium