Callicarpa americana

Callicarpa americana
Photo taken by Kevin Robertson (2015)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Verbenaceae
Genus:	Callicarpa
Species:	C. americana
Binomial name
Callicarpa americana L.
Natural range of Callicarpa americana from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common names: American beautyberry; French-mulberry

Taxonomic notes

Synonyms: none

Varieties: none

In greek, Callicarpa derives from callos meaning "beauty" and carpos meaning "fruit".

Description

Generally for the Callicarpa genus, they grow up to 1-2.5 m tall with twigs having stellate pubescence while being scrurfy when touched. The leaves are simple, opposite or subopposite, have short pubescent above, and ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or elliptic, acute to acuminate, petiolate in shape. The flowers are in axillary cymes. The calyx is shallowly 5-toothed, grows 0.5-2 mm long. The petals are united ca. 1/2-2/3 their length. The lobes 5, are spreading, are lavender to pinkish in color, grow 3-5 mm long. The stamens are exserted. The stigma is slightly 2-lobed. The drupe is 4-seeded, are lavendar to purple in color, are rarely white in color, and are globose. The seeds are light yellow to brown in color, are ellipsoid to orbicular rounded on the back, and are flattened on the inner surface.

Specifically, for Callicarpa americana, the leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate in shape, there are stellate pubescence beneath the leaves, and grow 7-15 cm wide, are crenate to serrate, and at the base are widely cuneate or rounded. The petioles grow 1.5-3.5 cm long, and are scurfy stellate like the twigs. The cymes are shorter than the subtending petioles. The peduncles grow 1-5 mm long. The drupe grows 3-5 mm long. The pyrenes grow 2.3 mm long.

Distribution

C. ameriana is native to the southeastern United States, ranging from Maryland to south Florida and Texas. It can also be found in Mexico and the West Indies.

Ecology

Phenology

C. americana has been observed flowering from May to August with peak inflorescence in June.

Seed dispersal

The seeds are dispersed by animals and birds.

Seed bank and germination

Seeds that are planted in the fall commonly germinate in the spring, but C. americana seeds can persist in the seed bank for several years.

Pollination

The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Callicarpa americana at Archbold Biological Station:

Apidae: Apis mellifera

Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochlora pura, Halictus poeyi, Lasioglossum placidensis

Megachilidae: Megachile brevis pseudobrevis

Use by animals

It is a moderate portion of large mammal diets, ranging from 10-25% of their average diet, and a low portion of small mammal and terrestrial bird diets, from 5-10% of their diet. Since the fruit is high in moisture content, it is an important source of food for over 40 species of songbirds, like the Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, American Robin, and Eastern Towhee. The fruit clusters are also eaten by foxes, opossum, armadillo, white tailed deer, squirrels, and raccoon. The white tailed deer also browse on the leaves when other preferred food is not available. As well, cattle browse on the twigs in the winter and twigs and leaves in the spring. Historically, C. americana was utilized by Native American tribes for many medicinal purposes; these include malarial fevers and rheumatism. As well, the roots were used for stomachaches, dizziness, and dysentry, and the roots and berries were used to treat colic by boiling them and drinking it. Farmers used the plant in the early 20th century as a mosquito repellent for horses and mules by crushing the leaves and placing them under the harnesses, and would use this same method on themselves as well.

Diseases and parasites

Leaf spots (Atractilina callicarpae) and black mold (Meliola cookeana) affect plants in the Callicarpa genus.

Conservation and management

It is listed as endangered and extirpated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. For ornamental management purposes, pruning the plants in the fall or winter will maintain its form, and old stems should be cut when pruning since only new growth produces fruit.

Cultivation and restoration

While there is no official cultivars of C. americana, there is a variety available (C. americana var. lactea) that produces white fruit that is available at some nurseries.