BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Viburnum acerifolium | Mapleleaf Viburnum 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mapleleaf viburnum is a large, deciduous, rhizomatous shrub from 3 to 6
feet (1-2 m) tall [11,24].  It has a straight trunk with spreading,
ascending branches, and forms dense thickets.  The maple-like leaves
are 3 to 5 inches (7.5-12.5 cm) long.  The flowers are arranged in flat
upright clusters.  The fruit is a one-seeded drupe [4,10].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Mapleleaf viburnum begins to produce seed at approximately 2 years of
age, and produces large amounts of seed every year.  The seed is
dispersed by animals and by gravity [9].

Most mapleleaf viburnum seeds have an impermeable seedcoat and exhibit
embryo dormancy that requires a warm-cold stratification sequence to be
broken [9].

Mapleleaf viburnum probably reproduces vegetatively by rhizomes [19].



SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Mapleleaf viburnum occurs in upland forests, woodlands, ravine slopes,
and hillsides [12,15,21].  It occurs in well-drained, moist soils and is
particularly tolerant of acid soils [4,9].

Common understory associates of mapleleaf viburnum include witchhazel
(Hamamelis virginiana), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), eastern
hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), low sweet blueberry (Vaccinium
angustifolium), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia),
sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum)
[15,17,25].  


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Mapleleaf viburnum is a mid- to late-seral species [16,19].  It is shade
tolerant and requires partial shading for optimum growth and development
[9,14].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Mapleleaf viburnum flowers from May to August, depending on location.
Fruits ripen from July to October [9,11]. 

Related categories for Species: Viburnum acerifolium | Mapleleaf Viburnum