Chapters 4.54
4.54.Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Annapoorna Bilwani Rani , University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Bilwani, R,A. (2022) Fleshy Fruits. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Introduction
Before the arrival of Europeans, many indigenous people lived in Canada, and were thriving with their own unique cultures, languages, foods, and different ways of life. Many indigenous people today are successful in a variety of professions, including the arts, athletics, medicine, sciences, philosophy, and many more. This paper is going to be talking about a specific indigenous fruit called the Nannyberry.
However, some indigenous people and their communities are currently at the bottom of every socioeconomic index. It's possible that people are questioning how this happened. When colonizers arrived in Canada, they began to rule over the indigenous communities. Indigenous people were not favoured by the laws, traditions, or ideologies of the colonizers, who took control of the trade routes and the access to resources. Now, indigenous people are starting to be treated more equally, but there is still a long way to go.
Plant Information
The nannyberry, also known as Viburnum lentago, is one of the many fruits used by the indigenous people. The species is native to North America and belongs to the Adoxaceae family and is a spring flowering shrub, which was first cultivated in 1761 (Bonner et.al 2008). The Nannyberry is a spring-flowering shrub which contains white clusters but these are replaced by of rounds, and contain green berries which later develop into juicy blue blackberries (Kavasch, 2005). These berries are later sweetened by early frost (Kavasch, 2005). Nannyberries are large shrubs that grow up to thirty-six feet in height and are also known as sheepberry, wild raisin, and sweet viburnum (Nesom, 2002). The leaves of this plant are ellipse to egg-shaped with toothed margins and two to four inches long (Nesom, 2022). The leaves are dark glossy green in during summer and become deep maroon to red in the fall time (Nesom, 2022). Nannyberry can grow in a variety of habitats, but it is most commonly found in moist areas with rich loam to clay-loam soil, such as low woods, swamp borders, or near stream banks (Nesom, 2002). It is also found on moist, wooded slopes, but can tolerate drier conditions (Nesom, 2002). This species thrives in the open and in partial shade (Bonner et al. 2008). The Viburnum lentago can be grown between two different location ranges: Midrange and Extremes. As seen in Figure 2.0, the Viburnum lentago has slightly different months of flowering, fruit ripening, and seed dispersal depending on the location it is grown. Its snowy white flowers bring an aesthetic look no matter where it is planted. These flowers bloom during May and change colour to burgundy during fall, and can grow up to 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide (Nesom, 2002).
Geographic Orgins
Nannyberry or Viburnum lentago is most commonly found in North America, although the ancestors were known to be located in Asia, and travelled through Europe before arriving here (Springs, 2019). They are located in northeastern USA and in southern Canada ranging from New Brunswick and southeastern Saskatchewan (Stetson, 2018). Many species of the Viburnum clade can be found in different parts of North America, but for the focus of this paper Viburnum lentago is commonly found in these places of North America.
Association With Indigenous People
The Nannyberry is also called “atîte'tamînaga'wûn” by the Ojibwe people (Smith, 1932). Indigenous gatherers throughout North America have harvested nannyberries and many other plants for centuries (Powell, 2016). The nannyberries were used in the preserves by the Iroquois, Ojibwa, Mi’kmaq, and Malecite people (Kuhnlein & Turner, 2020). Nannyberries were used by the Delaware Indians to make tea for measles (Radbill & Hamilton, 1960). The Pillager Ojibwe use the inner bark of the trunk to yield tea that is used as a diuretic (Smith, 1932). Not all the groups who used these berries used them for consumption, but they also used them as a source of medicine and in health.
Figure 4.0 shows different groups of indigenous people across Canada. It can be assumed that these people have used nannyberries as a consumption food, natural remedies, and even in medicine for health benefits.
Health Benefits And Medical Uses
Throughout history, natural methods of medication have been used in various cultures and traditions in order to improve/maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, the indigenous people and their communities used Nannyberries to help cure illnesses and diseases. The fruits of this tree were crushed and used to treat menstrual cramps (Tantaquidgeon, 1980). The bark/leaves of this tree have antispasmodic properties and is used in tea to treat measles, abdominal pains, malaria, and uterine infections (Youngken, 1930). It was also used as nerve sedative, asthma, and hay fever, and palpitation (Nesom, 2002).
Limitations
If the plant has poor air circulation, it can cause powdery mildew to develop, but this does not harm the plant (Nesom, 2002). However, the viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni), which became a problem in Ontario and Quebec in 1978 and later migrated to New York and Maine is a significant pest for this plant (Nesom, 2002). It is a huge concern in urban landscape and nurseries as well. The leaves of this plant can be harmed when this beetle starts laying eggs (Nesom, 2002). The larvae feed off on the plant, and the adult beetles feed on the leaves which can cause damage to the plant (Nesom, 2002). This can eventually lead to the death of the plant. In order to prevent this from happening, chemical control is applied and the over-wintering eggs are destroyed before hatching (Nesom, 2002). If too many eggs are laid on the plant, then it can affect the soil and when a different plant is planted (Nesom, 2002.
Fig 5.0 shows the Pyrrhalta viburni or the Viburnum leaf beetle laying eggs and feeding off of the plant (eventually harming it)
Figure 6.0 shows powdery mildew growing on the leaf of the Viburnum lentago.
References
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2.Canada History Project. (2011). Canada A Country by Consent: Native Peoples: Introduction. Canada a Country by Consent: Native Peoples: Introduction. Retrieved from, https://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1500/
3.Clayton. (n.d.). Viburnum lentago leaf infected by powdery mildew - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries. Viburnum Lentago Leaf Infected by Powdery Mildew - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries. Retrieved from, https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/afbyh53e6gt5x58l
4.J. Fecteau. (2014). Foraging Wild Fruit: Nannyberry | Josh Fecteau. Foraging Wild Fruit: Nannyberry | Josh Fecteau. Retrieved from, https://joshfecteau.com/foraging-wild-fruit-nannyberry/
5.Kavasch, E. B. (2005, March 4). Native Harvests. In American Indian Wild Foods and Recipes. 74 & 349.
6.Kuhnlein, H. V., & Turner, N. J. (2020). Traditional Plant Foods of Canadian Indigenous Peoples: Nutrition, botany, and use. Philadelphia, PA: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 10-11
7.Michigan state university. (2020, June 19). What’s eating my viburnums and how can I stop it? Gardening in Michigan. Retrieved from, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/keep_your_eyes_open_for_the_viburnum_leaf_beetle
8.Nesom, G. (2002). Plant fact sheet - adminplants.sc.egov.usda.gov. Retrieved from, https://adminplants.sc.egov.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_vile.pdf
9.Radbill, S. X., & Hamilton, G. R. (1960). Measles in fact and fancy. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, 34(5), 430–442
10.Niering, W. A., Dreyer, G. D., Egler, F. E., & Anderson, J. P. (1986). Stability of Viburnum lentago Shrub Community After 30 Years. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, 113(1), 23–27. Https://doi.org/10.2307/2996230
11.Tantaquidgeon, G. (1980). A Study of Delaware Indian Medicine Practice and Folk Beliefs, 81-82.
12.Youngken, H. W. (1932). The pharmacognosy, chemistry and pharmacology of viburnum. III. History, botany and pharmacognosy of viburnum opulus L. Var. Americanum (miller) ait*. The Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association (1912), 21(5), 444–462. https://doi.org/10.1002/jps.3080210506.