Callicarpa americana L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.

Scientific Name: Callicarpa americana L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Asteridae / Lamiales / Verbenaceae / Callicarpa L./ Callicarpa americana L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.

<i>Callicarpa americana</i> L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.
General Information
Usda SymbolCAAML
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrub
Native LocationsCAAML

Plant Guide

Uses

Ethnobotanic: The roots, leaves and branches of the American beautyberry were used by the Alabama, Choctaw, Creek, Koasati, Seminole and other Native American tribes for various medicinal purposes. The roots, leaves and branches were made into a decoction that was used in sweat baths to treat both malarial fevers and rheumatism. The boiled plant parts were poured into a big pan that was placed near the patient inside a sweathouse. A similar decoction of the roots was used to treat dizziness and stomachaches. The roots of Callicarpa americana were boiled with roots from Rubus spp. to make an infusion to treat dysentery. The roots and berries were boiled and drunk to treat colic. The bark from the stems and roots was used to treat itchy skin. A tea from the root bark was taken to treat urine retention or “urine stopped-up sickness.” Wildlife: The fruits of American beautyberry are an important food source for many species of birds including bobwhite quails, mockingbirds, robins, towhees, and brown thrashers. Animals that eat the fruit include armadillos, raccoons, wood rats, gray foxes, opossums, and white-tailed deer. The long-lasting fruits provide food for birds and animals well into the winter months when other food-sources are unavailable. Other: Beautyberry shrubs are raised for their ornamental flowers as well as their colorful clusters of fruits.

Status

© William S, Justice @ PLANTS Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e,g, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Callicarpa americana L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values),

Description

General: Vervain Family (Verbenaceae). American beautyberry is a native, perennial shrub. These small, deciduous shrubs reach from 1 to 2 m in height. The leaves are opposite, elliptical to ovate in shape (7 to 15 cm long) and have saw-toothed margins. The under-side of the leaves can be covered with white or rust-colored woolly hairs. The inconspicuous blue, violet, pink, or white flowers are borne in axillary clusters that bloom from late spring to early summer. The flowers are funnel-shaped with four clefs. The round, showy, violet or magenta drupes or fruits are 4-5 mm in diameter. The very juicy fruits, containing from 2 to 4 seeds, begin to ripen in August or September. These colorful fruits remain on the shrubs long after the leaves drop. Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Habitat: American beautyberry shrubs occur in dry open woods, moist woods, thickets and hammocks. They occur as understudy species in upland pine forests, upper slope pine-oak forests and old-growth maritime forests. These shrubs are adapted to climates with hot, humid summers and moderate winters.

Establishment

These shrubs may be propagated by softwood cuttings, but they are primarily grown from seed. The seeds do not require pretreatment for germination. The many volunteers that this plant produces are very hearty and can be dug up and transplanted elsewhere in a more desirable location. The plants do well in partial shade and sunny locations in well-drained soils. The shrubs have a denser habit and produce more fruit in sunny locations.

Management

This plant can produce abundant volunteers from the many seeds that drop to the soil. The flowers are produced on new growth, so prune plants after the fruits are gone to increase the next year’s growth and berry production. The plants can take a hard pruning and may be pruned to the ground level in the winter if desired. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) These plant materials are somewhat available from commercial sources. The white-fruited C. Americana var. lacteal is available from specialty nurseries. Contact your local Natural Resources

Conservation

Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government”. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

References

Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey 1976. Hortus Third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada. Simon and Schuster Macmillan Co., New York, New York. 1290 pp. Barbour, M.G., & W.D. Billings, Editors 2000. North American terrestrial vegetation, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 708 pp. Chapman, A.W. 1883. Flora of the southern United States: Flowering plants and ferns. Second Edition. J. Wilson and Son, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 698 pp. Dirr, M.A. 1997. Dirr’s hardy trees and shrubs: an illustrated encyclopedia. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 493 pp. Dirr, M.A. 1998. Manual of woody landscape plants. Fifth Edition. Stipes Publishing, Champaign, Illinois. 1187 pp. Greene, W.F. & H.L. Blomquist 1953. Flowers of the south: Native and exotic. University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 208 pp. Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim & A.L. Nelson 1951. American wildlife and plants: A guide to wildlife food habits. Dover Publications, New York. 500 pp. Moerman, D.E. 1998. Native American ethnobotany. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 927 pp. Moerman, D.E. 1999. Native American

Ethnobotany

Database: Foods, drugs, dyes and fibers of native North American peoples. The University of Michigan-Dearborn. [Online]. Available: http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb(19 June 2001) Ottensen, C. 1995. The native plant primer. Harmony Books, New York, New York. 354 pp. Rogers, D.J. & C. Rogers 1991. Woody ornamentals for Deep South gardens. University of West Florida Press, Pensacola, Florida. 296 pp. Small, J.K. 1933. Manual of Southeastern flora. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 1554 pp. Smith, A.I. 1979. A guide to wildflowers of the Mid-south. Memphis State University Press, Memphis, Tennessee. 281 pp. Sturtevant, W.C. 1954. The Mikasuki Seminole: medical beliefs and practices. Doctoral Dissertation, Yale University. 538 pp. Swanson, R.E. 1994. A field guide to the trees and shrubs of the Southern Appalachians. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland. 399 pp. Swanton, J.R. 2000. Creek religion and medicine. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska. 684 pp. Taylor, L.A. 1940. Plants used as curatives by certain Southeastern Tribes. Botanical Museum of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 88 pp. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory 2001. Fire effects information system, [Online]. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/. [19 June 2001]. Young, J.A. & C.G. Young 1992. Seeds of woody plants in North America. Dioscorides Press, Portland, Oregon. 407 pp.

http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

American beautyberry is also known as French mulberry, sourbush, bunchberry, or purple beauty-berry. In Greek, the genus name Callicarpa means callos, “beauty” and carpos “fruit”.

Uses

Ethnobotanic: The roots, leaves, and branches were used by various Native American tribes for medicinal purposes to treat malarial fevers and rheumatism. The roots were used to treat dizziness, stomachaches and dysentery. Roots and berries were boiled and drunk to treat colic. In the early 20th century, farmers would crush the leaves and place them under the harnesses of horses and mules to repel mosquitoes. The farmers rubbed the crushed leaves on themselves to repel mosquitoes and biting bugs. Studies conducted by the Agricultural Research Service has shown two compounds – callicarpenal and intermedeol - are responsible for the repellant. Wildlife: The fruit is high in moisture content and is an important food source for more than forty species of songbirds including the American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Purple Finch, and Eastern Towhee. The drupes or clusters are eaten by armadillo, foxes, opossum, raccoon and squirrels. White tailed deer consume the fruit in the fall after leaf drop. They also browse the leaves in summer when highly preferred foods are not available. Protein content of the leaves ranges from 18 percent in spring to 8 percent in fall. Other: American beautyberry is used as an ornamental shrub in mass plantings, borders and container planting. Livestock: Cattle browse the twigs in winter and the leaves and twigs in the spring.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site; http://plants.usda.gov and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description and Adaptation

Adaptation

Adaptation

American beautyberry is a fast growing native perennial shrub; growing five to eight feet tall and almost as wide with drooping branches, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Callicarpa americana L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.., The elliptical to ovate shaped leaves have an opposite arrangement with saw toothed margins, The underside of the leaves may be covered with wooly like hairs, The stems are slender, gray to reddish brown, and terete or four sided, In late spring to early summer, inconspicuous flowers of blue, violet, pink, or white are arranged in clusters on the stems between the leaves, In August or September, clusters of small purple to blue berries or drupes encircle the woody stems, Each small berry in the cluster contains two to four seeds about 1/16 in, long, This plant is distributed throughout the southeastern United States from Texas and Oklahoma east to Maryland, It also grows in the Caribbean and northern Mexico, American beautyberry is found in woods, particularly on moist areas under open pine canopies, thickets, right of ways, and fence rows, It is adapted to moist, loam, sandy or shallow upland sites and a wide pH range, The shrub is considered a pioneer species and is characteristic of the mid stages of plant succession, This plant is very tolerant of fire, However, it is intolerant of deep shade and declines in number when mid-story vegetation is dense,

http://plants,usda,gov/� American beautyberry distribution from USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, For updated distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site,

Establishment

American beautyberry can be propagated by transplanting volunteer plants, softwood cuttings, or seeds. Volunteer plants are very hearty and can be dug up and transplanted to a different location. Softwood stem cuttings (4” to 6” long) can be taken in the summer and fall. Dip the cut end into indol -3 – butyric acid (IBA; 1000 ppm) and insert into a rooting media. Keep the temperature of the media between 70-750. Water the cuttings and cover with plastic to keep the material moist. Roots should develop within a few weeks. After rooting begins, remove the plastic at longer intervals each day for seven to ten days. Afterwards, remove the plastic permanently. The seed is easily gathered by hand picking the mature fruit in the fall. The harvested berries, which contain 2 to 4 seeds each, can be treated in several ways; one is planting the berries in the fall for spring germination. American beautyberry seeds can survive several years in the soil bank. Another way is cleaning the seeds using a kitchen blender for small seedlots. Mix the berries with at least five times their volume of water and pour into the blender. Run the blender at its lowest speed using short bursts of a few seconds at a time to separate the skin and tissue from the seeds. Eventually, mature seeds sink to the bottom, while immature seeds, skins and tissue remain near the top. Check the seeds for possible damage. Pour off the unwanted material and repeat the process two or three times. Eventually, a clean seed sample will be left at the bottom of the blender. Drain the seeds and spread them out to dry. After drying, the seeds are ready for planting or storage in a cool, dry place.

Management

Prune the plants in the fall or winter to maintain its form. Cut away the old stems since the berries are present only on new growth.

Pests and Potential Problems

Some of the diseases which affect this genus include leaf spots (Atractilina callicarpae) and black mold (Meliola cookeana).

Environmental Concerns

American beautyberry seed is dispersed by birds and animals. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) This plant is available from commercial sources. Some nurseries produce a white fruited plant; C. Americana var. lactea. . Prepared By: Melinda Brakie, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Nacogdoches, Texas.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Hedge ToleranceMedium
Hedge ToleranceMedium
Frost Free Days, Minimum200
Frost Free Days, Minimum175
Fire ToleranceMedium
Fire ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fertility RequirementHigh
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Temperature, Minimum (°F)2
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Moisture UseLow
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-8
Shade ToleranceTolerant
Shade ToleranceIntermediate
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceNone
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Precipitation, Minimum35
Precipitation, Minimum30
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Maximum60
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim1200
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim4800
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2700
pH, Minimum5.8
pH, Minimum4.8
pH, Maximum7.2
pH, Maximum7.0
Moisture UseHigh


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Fire ResistantNo
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Flower ConspicuousYes
Flower ConspicuousYes
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ColorBlue
Resprout AbilityYes
Fire ResistantNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fall ConspicuousYes
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
C:N RatioHigh
C:N RatioHigh
BloatNone
BloatNone
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
Shape and OrientationErect
Fruit/Seed ColorPurple
Resprout AbilityYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)6.0
Height, Mature (feet)9.0
Fruit/Seed ColorPurple
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Growth RateModerate
Growth RateModerate
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee6
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee9


Reproduction

Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Seed per Pound85000
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound85000
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seedling VigorMedium
Seedling VigorMedium
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodEarly Summer
Bloom PeriodEarly Summer
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by CormNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

<i>Callicarpa americana</i> L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.

<i>Callicarpa americana</i> L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.

<i>Callicarpa americana</i> L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.

<i>Callicarpa americana</i> L. var. lactea F.J. Müll.