question from an amateur
 

a friend and i were hiking through the cracks of rock in the foothills
of the Ozark mountains this weekend. we came across a plant that
neither of us had seen before. it was (up to) 5 1/2 feet tall, along
the "stems" of each were the most brilliant color of "violet" berry i
have ever seen, each berry-cluster consited of about 20-50 berries
(berries being 1/8 in diameter) with two leaves sticking out of the
side. (one on each side of the cluster)
i didn't have a camera, sorry, and i don't remove vegitation from
state parks so all i have is this question and description.

it was almost like the berry clusters would change color (tho keeping
the violet) as you moved around them

this was in Arkansas on top of Petit Jean Mnt. if that helps at all.
any help is GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
T

p.s. and , no, it wasn't "polk salad" :)

question from an amateur
 

well, i found it,,, it's the Callicarpa americana (French Mullberry)

question from an amateur
 

a friend and i were hiking through the cracks of rock in the foothills of
the Ozark mountains this weekend. we came across a plant that neither of us had
seen before. it was (up to) 5 1/2 feet tall, along the "stems" of each were the
most brilliant color of "violet" berry i have ever seen, each berry-cluster
consited of about 20-50 berries

That's an easy one. Callicarpa americana, beautyberry. I have one of its
hardier relatives. The berries look like they came from Michael's.

Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"The trouble with people is not that they don't know but that they know so much
that ain't so."
Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), 1818-1885