Laurustinus

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Laurustinus
• Laurestine
• Laurustinus viburnum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tynus lucidus
• Viburnum tinus var. macrophyllum
• Viburnum tinus var. mauritii
• Viburnum lucidum
• Tynus lauriformis
• Viburnum tinus var. lucidum
• Viburnum tinus var. strictum
• Viburnum latifolium
• Tinus laurifolius
• Viburnum tinus var. hirtum
• Viburnum tinus var. barcinonensis
• Viburnum tinus var. jimenezii
• Viburnum tinus var. virgatum
• Viburnum lauriforme

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Dipsacales and placed in the family Viburnaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Viburnum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the Mediterranean, it is also found throughout parts of Southwestern Europe. Specific locations within this southern region include the Balearic Islands, Corsica, and mainland France. Consequently, the distribution of Viburnum tinus stretches from the Atlantic coasts to the warmer Mediterranean landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Viburnum tinus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated on woody stems above the ground level, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic processes and photosynthesis across varying seasons. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte is consistently supported through its structural development, allowing it to establish a stable and enduring presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Viburnum tinus is characterized by its growth form as a woody, self-supporting shrub. It is an independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. This species typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 7 meters. As a self-supporting shrub, it lacks the climbing characteristics of a liana or vine, instead developing a robust, woody structure that allows it to stand firmly within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Viburnum tinus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody evergreen shrubs that optimizes carbon fixation under temperate conditions. Its leaf morphology plays a crucial role in its resource management, exhibiting a mean leaf size of approximately 16.7295 cm². The leaves are structurally defined by a consistent width, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 4 cm, while the length varies, reaching a maximum of 9 cm. Furthermore, the plant displays a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 77 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the balance between leaf thickness and area, providing insight into its leaf mass distribution and its efficiency in light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf size mean:

16.7295 cm²

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

77 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Viburnum tinus is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in February, though the timing can be variable across different months of the year. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, which have a mean length of 0.755 cm and a mean width of 0.54 cm. These fruits facilitate reproduction through a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals. The seeds contained within the fruit exhibit a consistent volume of 47 mm³ and a mean mass of approximately 0.040125 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.02716 g to a maximum of 0.07799 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.755 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.54 cm

Seed mass max:

0.07799 g

Seed mass mean:

0.040125 g

Seed mass min:

0.02716 g

Seed volume max:

47 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Viburnum tinus has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OLEANOLIC ACID, Scopoletin 7-O-beta-D-sophoroside, Suspensolide A, Viburtinoside A, Viburtinoside B.

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Phytochemistry

Scopoletin 7-O-beta-D-sophoroside

1. Phytochemistry

Suspensolide A

1. Phytochemistry

Viburtinoside A

1. Phytochemistry

Viburtinoside B

1. Phytochemistry