The American Beautyberry
by Jennifer White
Title
The American Beautyberry
Artist
Jennifer White
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
These beautiful purple berries are called American Beautyberry / Callicarpa americana. I took these at Runge Conservation Park in Jefferson City, Missouri, United States. American beautyberry is an open-habit, native shrub of the Southern US which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards. American beautyberries produce large clusters of purple berries, which birds and deer eat, thus distributing the seeds. The raw berries, while palatably sweet, are suitable for human consumption only in small amounts, because they are astringent. Some have reported mild stomach cramps after consumption. The berries are also used in jellies and wine. The roots are used to make herbal tea. As a folk remedy it has been claimed that "fresh, crushed leaves helped keep biting insects away from animals such as horses and mules". A chemical compound isolated from the plant, callicarpenal, was effective as a mosquito repellent in a laboratory experiment using a simulated skin model.
The berries ripen in September through October and are a favorite among wild bird species including cardinals, mockingbirds, finches, woodpeckers and more. It is commonly planted in landscape designs to attract wildlife. (some info from Wikipedia)
This has been featured in the following groups:
-1.30.18 Pretty in Pink, Blue or Purple
This photo was taken by Jennifer White with Timeless Moments Photography. All images are copyrighted © Timeless Moments Photography/Jennifer White. All rights reserved.
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Uploaded
January 29th, 2018
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