User:ItsAWildLife879/Callicarpa americana

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Callicarpa americana, the American beautyberry, is an open-habitat, native shrub of the Southern United States which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards.

'''Callicarpa Americana is native to the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In the United States, this species is primarily found in the southeastern states. Callicarpa Americana also has many qualities that have been found useful to animals and humans.'''

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Characteristics

Plants with white berries are found in cultivation under the name Callicarpa americana var. lactea; not all authorities recognize this as a distinct variety (in the sense of the botanical rank below subspecies).

Propagation can be accomplished by making traditional cuttings; or germinating fully ripened (purple) seeds in pots or growing flats; or by scattering seeds on bare ground in a suitable area and lightly covering them or stepping on them to gently press them into the soil.

'''Callicarpa is a fast-growing shrub that grows approximately five to eight feet tall as well as five to eight feet wide. They have slim, four-sided stems that range from a grey to brown color and small hairs on the underside of the leaves that have saw-toothed edges. In the Spring, the plant begins to bloom flowers of various colors. The colors range from blue, pink, violet, to white and the blossoms are in small groups between the leaves. The plant starts to develop purple or blue berries around August or September which surround the entire stem between the leaves.'''

'''The American Beautyberry is commonly found in wooded areas with open canopies and various soil types. It is tolerant to habitats with moist, loam, sandy, or shallow soil. This species does not thrive in dense vegetation. The American Beautyberry thrives when a wildfire is introduced to its habitat. The fire allows the competition of the Callicarpa Americana to be drastically reduced, giving this species priority to much needed resources such as sunlight and increased access to room for growth. Its growth is also induced by the transportation of its seeds by bird and other various animals.'''

Uses[edit]
The raw berries, while palatably sweet, are suitable for human consumption only in small amounts, because they are astringent. Some people 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 of American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana ... 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. Beautyberry is commonly planted in landscape designs to attract wildlife because of the food source the berries provide and the cover animals get from the shrub itself.

'''Callicarpa Americana, otherwise known as the American Beautyberry, has various uses. Native Americans used each individual portion of the plant for medicinal purposes. The plant was used to treat Dizziness, stomachaches, dysentery, and to treat colic, malarial fevers, and rheumatism. The plant was also used to repel mosquitos and other various biting insects.'''

'''The American Beautyberry is also used as a food source. Not commonly as a human food source but as a food source for wildlife. The fruit from the plant is palatable to humans but is not very sweet, so it is not commonly consumed raw but it has been used to make jelly or wine. Various animals use the Callicarpa Americana berries as a common food source, and is a particularly common source of food for various species of birds as well as various species of deer. It is also an attractant for butterflies, and various pollinators.'''