Viburnum latana 綿毛莢蒾

Common name: Wayfaring-tree
Scientific name: Viburnum latana 綿毛莢蒾
Genus: Viburnum 莢蒾屬*
Family: Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family

Remarks*: Viburnum was previously included in the Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, the honeysuckle family. Based on molecular phylogeny, it is now placed in Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family.

Origin: native

Date: 26th April & (13th May)

A deciduous shrub, can reach up to 3 m.

Flowering shoot.

The inflorescence.

Opposite leaves.

Leaf blade 5 - 10 cm, regularly toothed.

Leaf densely hairy beneath.

The underside of the leaf showing the hairs.

Twig is pubescent. Photo enlarged below.

The hairs of the twig.

The branching pattern of the inflorescence. (the flat-topped cyme)

Photo enlarged below to see the lateral view of the flowers.

The sepals (5 very short green lobes)  

Another photo of the lateral view of flowers.

The bracteole and sepals of the flower. Note the bottom of this flower swollen a little bit. It seems it maybe fertilized and the ovary is changing into fruit.

The star-shaped white hairs on the flower stalk.

Photo enlarged below to see the details of the flower.

5 petals, with their tips reflexing. 5 stamens, alternating with the petals. 1 green style.

Another photo of other flowers.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Photos below were taken on 13th May)

Flowers had been dropped and some of them are fruiting now.

Fruit is forming. It is very laterally compressed at this stage.

Sambucus nigra 西洋接骨木

Common name: Elder
Scientific name: Sambucus nigra 西洋接骨木
Genus: Sambucus 接骨木屬
Family: Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family

Remarks*: Sambucus was previously included in the Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, the honeysuckle family. Based on molecular phylogeny, it is now placed in Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family.

Origin: native

Date: 13th April

A deciduous shrub or small tree, can reach up to 10 m.

Flowering shoot and the inflorescence.

Leaves.

Leaf with 5 leaflets. Leaflet is 3-9 cm long, ovate. Stipules are absent. (vs leaves with 5-7 leaflets; stipules represented by stalked glands in Sambucus racemosa 歐洲接骨木, 紅果接骨木, 總序接骨木, red-berried elder. vs  leaves with 7-13 leaflets; stipules are large and conspicuous in Sambucus ebulus 矮接骨木, dwarf elder.) 

Photo enlarged below.

Junction of the petioles to the stem. Stipules are absent.

Underside of the leaflets.

Branch with prominent lenticels.

Flat- topped inflorescence.

Lateral view of the flower buds.

Photo enlarged below to see the branching pattern of the inflorescence and the underside of the flowers.

Underside of the flower showing the 5 small triangular sepals.

The inflorescence.

Photo enlarged below to see the details of the flowers.

Corolla is 5 mm across. 5 petals, 5 stamens and 1 style.

Another flower.

Another flower.

Viburnum opulus 歐洲莢蒾

Common name: Guelder Rose
Scientific name: Viburnum opulus 歐洲莢蒾
Genus: Viburnum 莢蒾屬*
Family: Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family

Remarks*: Viburnum was previously included in the Caprifoliaceae 忍冬科, the honeysuckle family. Based on molecular phylogeny, it is now placed in Adoxaceae 五福花科, moschatel family.

Origin: native

Date: 13th May

A deciduous shrub, can reach up to 4 m. Leaf blade is 5-8 cm, irregularly 3-lobed, glabrous above.

Underside of the leaves.

A pair of glands at the top of the petiole.

Photo enlarged below.

The disc shaped glands.

Stipules at the base of the petioles.

A pair of short petioles.

Stem is glabrous.

Outer bigger, sterile flowers bloom first.

The outer bigger white flowers are sterile.

The inner smaller, fertile flowers bloom later.

Almost all flowers in this inflorescence are flowering.

The branching pattern of the inflorescence.

Photo enlarged below to see the flower buds.

The flower buds and the bracteoles at the base of them.

Photo enlarged below.

The underside of the outer, sterile flower.

The 5 small, green sepals of the outer, sterile flower. 

The front view of the outer, sterile flower. 5 petals.

Only 1 style with 3 stigmas are present at the centre of the sterile flower. Anthers are absent.

The inner fertile flowers.

The side view of the smaller, fertile flower.

White narrow bracteoles at the base of the flower. 

The fertile flowers have 5 smaller petals, 5 stamens and 1 style with 3 stigmas.

The central, fertile flowers.

Photo enlarged below to see the details of the flower.

5 petals, 5 stamens and 1 style with 3 stigmas.