The guelder rose

This was a nice find on yesterday's lunchtime dog walk. It's by no means a rare plant but it's not very common around where I live. 

It's the guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).

Pronounced 'gelder' (to rhyme with elder), it takes its name from the Dutch province of Gelderland, where it grows in profusion. Other common names include water elder, crampbark, snowball tree, common snowball, and European cranberrybush. 

It's not, in fact, any kind of a rose. The confusing name probably arose from the fact that its flowers can look a bit like rose heads from a distance. The flowers do vary considerably between cultivars though.

In the Autumn the plant produces a profusion of red berries which are edible. However, they are very bitter and mildly toxic and too many of them will give you a tummy upset (just like elderberries). However, the toxins are removed by cooking so they are good for jams and jellies. Like sloes, they are best picked after a frost but freezing will achieve the same thing as it breaks the cell walls and sweetens the fruit. 

As always, don't eat them unless you are 100% of identification as some red berries from other plants are dangerously toxic. 

The old name 'Crampbark' refers to the plant's ability to reduce muscle tightness. The bark contains viopudial, a compound that relaxes muscle and lowers blood pressure. Preparations were used in the past to relieve period pains and cramps during childbirth. 

The leaves turn from green to glorious yellows and reds in Autumn and then drop. However, the berries can remain on the naked plant throughout the Winter, providing wildlife with much needed food.

The plant is known as kalyna in Ukraine, and you'll often see guelder rose berries embroidered on ceremonial clothing. The berries symbolise home and one's native land, blood, and family roots. In Slavic paganism kalyna also represents the beauty of young women.

It is also one of the national symbols of Russia where it is called kalina. The fiery red colour of the berries represents beauty and passionate love, and berries are an erotic symbol. The bitter taste of the fruit symbolises lost love and separation. 

Songs about the berry are a traditional part of Russian weddings. And it gave its name to the Russian song Kalinka which started being played before matches at Chelsea FC after Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.

From foraging to football, all human life is here on this blog.