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Viburnum rufidulum
This viburnum is a shrub or tree, usually growing to 18 ft. but sometimes taller with bark separating into dark, rectangular plates. Twigs reddish brown with a thin light gray coating. Leaves in pairs, often on short spurs, the petioles covered with rust colored, branched hairs visible under a l0x hand lens; blades up to 3 1/2 inches long, elliptic to oval or ovate, tip rounded or with a broad point, base rounded or broadly wedge shaped, margins finely serrate, firm textured with a shiny upper surface. Glossy, dark-green, deciduous leaves turn a variety of warm hues in autumn. Flowers white, from 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide, in rounded or flattened clusters up to 4 inches wide, appearing in March and April and noticeable from a distance in early spring. Fruit fleshy, bluish black lightened by a waxy coating, up to 1/2 inch long, slightly longer than wide. They are edible and said to taste like raisins.
This tree was growing near the road and along the edge of a trail. It was 12 or so feet tall, which is fairly tall for a Blackhaw.
Collin County Adventure Camp is a branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas and an ACA accredited facility and program. Explore the unique environment of the Black Land Prairie in our Outdoor Education program.
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