Evergreen shrub or small tree to c. 4 m high; stems slightly hairy or glabrous. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, mostly 5–9 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide, apex acute or obtuse, base often asymmetric, margins recurved to revolute, upper surface glossy dark green and glabrous, lower surface paler with hairs on veins; petioles 1–2 cm long. Inflorescences corymb-like, 5–8 cm diam., much-branched, axes often with simple and stellate hairs; bracts lanceolate to ovate, 1–2 mm long. Sepals broadly triangular, 1–2 mm long, ciliate; petals 3–4 mm long, connate to just below middle, white, sometimes tinged pink. Drupe ovoid, 5–10 mm long, metallic blue-black. Flowers mainly spring.
VVP, GipP, WaP, Gold, CVU, HSF, HNF, OtR. Also possibly naturalised SA, ACT, Tas. Native to southern Europe. Weakly naturalised at a number of localities, usually in moist to wet forests adjoining gardens, presumably from seed deposited by birds that feed on the fleshy drupes.
Source:
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Caprifoliaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 642–647. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
