Woody suffrutex, 0.3-1.5 m high, forming large colonies of much-branched clones ± 5 m diam. Plants evergreen, dioecious. Branches ascending, slender and glabrous, except for a rust-brown granular exudate on young growth; bark grey on older stems. Leaves simple, subopposite, subsessile; blade oblanceolate-elliptic, straight, 25-75(-90) x 4-8(-10) mm, glabrous, leathery and smooth, except for a rust-brown granular exudate on younger leaves, usually yellowish green above and pale green below; base tapering into a very short petiole (1 mm), apex acute to rounded, margin entire, main vein and principal lateral veins prominent above and below. Inflorescences axillary, few-flowered, clusters or short spikes. Flowers regular. Male flowers: calyx 4-lobed, ± 3 mm long; corolla campanulate, deeply 4-lobed, ± 5 mm long, pale cream-coloured to pinkish white, appressed hairy on back; stamens 8, narrowly ovate, ± 3 mm long, anther thecae pubescent on outer surface. Female flowers: calyx not accrescent, persistent in fruit, 4-lobed, ± 2 mm long; corolla 4-lobed, ± 4 mm long, green, lobes appressed hairy on back; ovary hairy, borne on a fimbriate, fleshy disc; styles 2. Fruit an indehiscent, globose berry, ± 9 x 10 x 8 mm, densely appressed hairy; young fruits green, ripening through brownish red to purplish black. Flowering time: October to January. Fruiting time: November to February.
Home