Description: Shrubs or small trees, rarely herbs, evergreen or deciduous.
Leaves opposite, simple, margins entire or lobed; often without stipules.
Inflorescences terminal, paniculate or umbel-like cymes, the outer flowers sterile and with enlarged petals in several species. Flowers actinomorphic and zygomorphic, bisexual, mostly 5-merous. Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla usually rotate or campanulate. Stamens 5. Ovary inferior, usually 1-locular; ovules 1 or more; style very short, 3-lobed.
Fruit a drupe, 1-seeded.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 202 species, North & Central America, northern Africa, Europe to eastern Asia. Australia: 3 species (naturalized), Qld., N.S.W., A.C.T., S.A., Vic., Tas.
Text by G. J. Harden, distribution and occurence updated by Kerry Gibbons, 21 Apr. 2023.
Taxon concept: Distribution and occurrence: Kew Plants of the World Online; Australian Plant Census [both accessed 18 Apr. 2023].
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Shrub or small tree to 10 m high; leaves 7–20 cm long, 4–9 cm wide | Viburnum odoratissimum |
| shrub or small tree to c. 4 m high; leaves 3–8 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide | 2 |
| 2 | Leaves with lower surface with hairs on veins; margins entire; petioles 10–20 mm long; corolla tube less than twice as long as lobes | Viburnum tinus |
| Leaves with lower surface glabrous; margins usually crenate-toothed towards apex; petioles 3–10 mm long; corolla tube less than twice as long as lobes
Back to 1 | Viburnum suspensum |
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