Callicarpa americana
Callicarpa americana, commonly known as beautyberry, is a striking deciduous shrub native to the southeastern United States. Renowned for its vibrant, metallic-purple berry clusters, this medicinal plant has long been used in traditional folk medicine to treat skin ailments, inflammation, and digestive issues, offering both aesthetic and therapeutic value.
- Scientific name: Callicarpa americana
- Family: Lamiaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed by the genus Callicarpa.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lamiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Callicarpa | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the United States. In the North-Central region, it can be found growing in Missouri and Oklahoma. Moving toward the South-Central area, the species is also present in Texas. Its range extends into the Southeastern United States, where it is common in Alabama. Finally, it continues its southeastern presence within the state of Arkansas.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| North-Central U.S.A. | Missouri | WCVP |
| North-Central U.S.A. | Oklahoma | WCVP |
| South-Central U.S.A. | Texas | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Alabama | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Arkansas | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Florida | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Georgia | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Kentucky | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Louisiana | WCVP |
| Southeastern U.S.A. | Maryland | WCVP |
Activities
Callicarpa americana has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Callicarpa americana has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, acne vulgaris, fever, pruritis.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acne vulgaris | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pruritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |