Viburnum prunifolium

subsp. var.
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Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Viburnum prunifolium, Linn. (V. pyrifolium, Poir.). Black Haw. Stag-bush. Shrub or small tree, attaining 15 ft., with spreading, rather stout branches: winter buds short-pointed, glabrous or reddish, pubescent: lvs. broadly oval to ovate, acute, or obtuse, glabrous or nearly so, 1-3 in. long; petioles often with narrow margin, glabrous: fls. pure white: cymes sessile, 2-4 in. broad: fr. oval to subglobose, bluish black and glaucous, little over 1/3 in. long. April-June. Conn. to Fla., west to Mich. and Texas. A.F. 12:1100. Gng. 5:310. M.D.G. 1901:628. F.E. 17:701. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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Plant Info
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Scientific classification
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Binomial name
Viburnum prunifolium L.
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Synonyms
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Black haw, also spelled blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), is a small tree native to southern North America. It has both value in the pleasure garden, providing good fall color and early winter provender for birds, and medicinal properties.

Biology and taxonomy

Black haw has the scientific name Viburnum prunifolium. It was originally classified in the family Caprifoliaceae. After genetic testing by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, the genus Viburnum was moved to the family Adoxaceae.

Black haw is a small deciduous tree or shrub. Like many species of Prunus, it has oval leaves with serrated edges— thus "prunifolium"— showy pale-colored flowers, and dark blue-black berries that are eaten by birds. The bark is reddish-brown in color. In the northern parts of its range, V. prunifolium is a shrub, becoming a small tree in the southern parts of its range. Wherever it lives, black haw prefers sunny woodland with well-drained soil and adequate water. The tree is deciduous; its leaves turn red in fall.

Herbalism

For centuries, black haw has been used for medical purposes, mainly for gynecological conditions. The bark is the part of the plant used in treatments.

Pharmacology

The active components include scopoletin, aesculetin, salicin, 1-methyl-2,3 clibutyl hemimellitate, and viburnin. Tannin is another chemical component of black haw.

Medicinal uses

Native Americans used a decoction of black haw to treat gynecological conditions, including menstrual cramps, aiding recovery after childbirth, and in treating the effects of menopause. As a folk remedy, black haw has been used to treat menstrual pain, and morning sickness. Due to its antispasmodic properties, the plant may also be of use in treating cramps of the digestive tract or the bile ducts.

Black haw's primary use was to prevent miscarriages. American slaveholders also used the plant to prevent abortions. Slaves were a valuable asset, and their owner also owned their offspring, so ensuring that female slaves gave birth was of paramount importance. In defiance, some slave women would attempt to use cotton seeds to cause a miscarriage. The slaveowners would therefore force pregnant slaves to drink an infusion of black haw to prevent that.

The primary use of black haw today is to prevent menstrual cramps. The salicin in black haw may also be of use in pain relief.

Safety issues

As black haw contains salicin, a chemical relative of aspirin, people who are allergic to that substance should not use black haw. In addition, due to the connection between aspirin and Reye's syndrome, young people or people afflicted with a viral disease should not use black haw.

The chemicals in black haw do relax the uterus and therefore probably pr event miscarriage; however, the salicin may be teratogenic. Consequently, pregnant women should not use black haw. Furthermore, anyone using herbs for medical reasons should only use them under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.

Black haw is not on the FDA's "generally recognized as safe list".