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Jul 30, 2010: Chlorogalum pomeridianum
Jul 31, 2009:
Nepenthes rafflesiana
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Mentzelia hispida
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Mimulus guttatus
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Cacti Beds
August 1, 2009 : Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
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Plant Family / Families: Caprifoliaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S. F. Blake var. laevigatus (Fernald) S. F. Blake
Institution: San Francisco Botanical Garden
Name Location: San Francisco, California, United States of America
J.G. took today's Botany Photo of the Day at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and then posted the image in our Flickr Pool late last month. As always, our thanks go to J.G. for his consistently breathtaking photos. (Original Image)
A member of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), Symphoricarpos—which is most commonly known as snowberry—counts about 15 low-branching deciduous shrub species among its ranks. All but one are native to the New World (in this case North and Central America); the single exception, S. sinensis, is, as its name intimates, a native of China. Symphoricarpos species generally bear lobed and rounded green leaves that can grow to 5 cm. in length. Additionally, plants put forth variously arranged dense clusters of nectar-rich, bell-shaped flowers that range from white and pink to green in colour. Lastly, species produce the type of conspicuous—though to humans (mostly) poisonous—waxy, berry-type fruits rendered so beautifully in today's photo. That the fruits are borne in clusters explains the genus's name: (from the Greek) symphoreo = to bear together + karpos = fruit.
Symphoricarpos albus var. albus is native to most North America, primarily east of the Rocky Mountains, while the variety laevigatus, which is featured in today's image, is native to the Pacific slope (i.e., west of the Rockies), where it thrives in the under-story of coniferous forests, particularly in the shaded conditions associated with forest boundaries. Both varieties are rhizomatous—and thus spreading—and tolerant of soil conditions ranging from moist river terraces to rocky slopes and hillsides. Though the berries are somewhat unfriendly to human bodies if ingested (in some cases inducing vomiting, dizziness, or worse), they serve as an important source of sustenance to a number of large forest animals and birds (quail, grouse), and these last operate as the species' primary means of propagation.
Symphoricarpos albus has a history of cultivation in Europe that extends at least as far back as the initial years of the 19th century. Both the eastern and western varieties are known as the common snowberry. Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus (laevigatus = smooth—referring to the relative paucity of hairs on the stems and leaf undersides of these plants) can grow to about 2 metres in height, which is somewhat larger than its eastern counterpart. Both varieties are common garden ornamentals.
Posted by Stephen Coughlin (summer student 2009) at August 1, 2009 7:00 AM
Comments
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Posted by: Meg Bernstein at August 1, 2009 7:23 AM
I start every day by looking at the Botany Photo of the Day and the Astronomy Picture of the Day. They are wonderful! Thank you. I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated.
Posted by: Eva Kashket at August 1, 2009 7:38 AM
while causing gastric distress they stil have a fun tactile sensation for kids and others - the mature fruits are fun to mooosh!
Posted by: Quin at August 1, 2009 11:27 AM
Yes, I remember long ago how much we enjoyed mooshing these white berries. And also, the skin of the berry has a nice texture, and sometimes we just carried them around in our hands. I didn't realize they were poisonous -- I'm glad I didn't try eating them! As children, we were quite cautious about eating berries and plants; perhaps a result of successful indoctrination by adults about the dangers of eating anything not already clearly sanctioned as 'food'.
Posted by: Mary Ann, in Toronto at August 1, 2009 11:59 AM
What a lovely photo. I learn so much from the wrtie-up and enjoy all the information,
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at August 1, 2009 12:05 PM
The edible Snowberry is obviously not related!
Posted by: Old Ari at August 2, 2009 1:17 PM
I am amazed at the variety and beauty of our plants. I also would like to know where Eva gets the Astronomy photo of the day.
Posted by: deanna at August 2, 2009 2:44 PM
Deana There is an Astronomy Picture of the Day site at http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
Posted by: Allan at August 2, 2009 5:13 PM
We used to have snowberries growing at the edges of the woods when I was a kid, but a guy my mom hired to remove poison ivy and other undesirable brush killed them all. I have looked for them for years and have found a few touted as snowberries (one was actually pink-berried) but have never seen that glorious variety we had for sale anywhere. It is amazing to me that a shrub that is so pest free, easy to grow, and beautiful in all of its stages, from mere foliage to fruiting, is not sold for landscaping here in Pennsylvania.
Posted by: Carol Ross at August 4, 2009 2:23 PM
this looks a lot like magnolia tree flower...is it related
Posted by: kathy at August 5, 2009 12:01 AM
The Snowberry is an important host plant for Chalcedona Checkerspot --Euphydryas chalcedona in the Pacific Northwest. Its caterpillars require this plant for their development. Perhaps the chemical which makes people sick is a benefit as protection for the caterpillar/butterfly.
Posted by: Eleanor Ryan at August 10, 2009 10:19 AM
Thanks!
I have a question though....can you tell me how to identify S. albus from S. albus var. laevigatus from the Western Snowberry S. occidentalis? What are the characteristics that sent them apart?
It grows all over our area here in Eastern WA. Specifically we are in the Palouse region south of Spokane and our annual precipitation is an average 17".
Thanks
Posted by: Vera Moore at November 12, 2009 2:23 PM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day and associated images by UBC Botanical Garden staff are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Images and text by non-UBC contributors are copyright the respective photographers / authors (but often have Creative Commons licenses if contributed via Flickr).
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
I love these high contrast photos. You can see so much of the detail.