Callicarpa, commonly known as beautyberry, is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Lamiaceae. They are native to east and southeast Asia (where the majority of the species occur), Australia, Madagascar, south-eastern North America and South America.
The leaves are simple, opposite, usually 5-25 cm long. Its flowers are small, white to pink or light purple in color. They produce small clusters of purple drupes along their branches.
Description
The temperate species are deciduous, the tropical species evergreen. The leaves are simple, opposite, and 5–25 cm long. The flowers are in clusters, white to pinkish. The fruit is, in botanical terms, a berry up to 5 mm diameter. They are pink to red-purple with a highly distinctive metallic lustre, and are very conspicuous in clusters on the bare branches after the leaves fall. The berries last well into the winter or dry season and are an important survival food for birds and other animals, though they will not eat them until other sources are depleted. The berries are highly astringent but are made into wine and jelly. Callicarpa species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species in Asia including Endoclita malabaricus and Endoclita undulifer.
They are widely grown in gardens for their berries, which provide food for animals and birds during the winter. Additionally, some species are used in medicines for fever and rheumatism. It is also used as a mosquito repellent.
Etymology The Latin name callicarpa derives from the Greek κάλλος (kállos) 'beauty' and καρπός (karpós) 'fruit'.
Selected species
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) is native to the southeastern United States.Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map It can typically reach 1 to 2 meters in height. A jelly can be made from its ripe berries. Ornamental varieties of Callicarpa americana have been bred to have pink or white berries. Callicarpa bodinieri (Bodinier's beautyberry)), native to west-central China (Sichuan, Hubei, Shaanxi), is more cold-tolerant than C. americana, and is the species most widely cultivated in northwestern Europe. It can reach 3 meters tall. Callicarpa japonica (Japanese beautyberry), native to Japan, is also cultivated in gardens. It is called Murasakishikibu in Japanese, in honor of Murasaki Shikibu. Callicarpa dichotoma (Purple beautyberry), native to Japan, China, and Korea.
Uses Insect repellent American beautyberry has been used as a folk remedy to prevent mosquito bites.Scientists Confirm Folk Remedy Repels Mosquitoes University of Mississippi (ScienceDaily) July 3, 2006 Four chemicals isolated from Callicarpa have been shown to act as insect repellents:borneol, callicarpenal, intermedeol, and spathulenol. The use of callicarpenal has been patented by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service as a mosquito repellent.
Species , Plants of the World Online accepts the following 164 species:
References
External links
Dr. Duke's Databases: Callicarpa americana - List of Chemicals Callicarpa info Eat The Weeds - Beautyberry