Shrub or small tree to c. 10 m high, evergreen; stems with white lenticels. Leaves ovate to narrow-ovate or elliptic, mostly 6–12 cm long and 3–5 cm wide, acuminate, discolorous, glabrous; petiole 10–20 mm long. Panicles terminal, 15–25 cm long, dense, pyramidal; pedicels 1–3 mm long. Calyx 1–1.5 mm long, with obscure triangular teeth; corolla 3–5 mm long, white; corolla-tube shorter than lobes, lobes reflexed at anthesis; stamens c. 3 mm long, anthers long-exserted. Berry globose, c. 8 mm diam., fleshy, blue-black; seeds usually 2. Flowers spring and summer.
VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, WaP, Gold, CVU, NIS, EGU, HSF. Also naturalised Qld, NSW, ACT. Native to China and Japan. A commonly grown hedge plant that has become naturalised near Koondrook, Wangaratta district and near Tubbut (and probably elsewhere).
Source:
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Oleaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 477–483. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
