wild-raisin, Viburnum cassinoides

The name wild-raisin may give you an idea of what the fruit of this shrub or small tree looks like. Those berries won't show up in your market. The flesh is too thin, and not that tasty. But there were hungrier days when they were more appreciated. Which brings us to the River Raisin. It runs through town here, and it has been suggested that it was named because of the Viburnums that grow along it. We will probably never know. Wild grapes are at least as abundant (and unappealing). This species, sometimes called V. nudum var. cassinoides, grows in woods and thickets in AL, CT(S), DE, GA, IL, IN(E), KY(E), MA, MD, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA(E), RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, and QC. Lenawee Co MI, 5/23/11. Moschatel family, Adoxaceae.