Daphne mezereum, L.

1. D. mezereum L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 356 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Deciduous shrub 25-200 cm, of bushy habit, with erect or ascending, greyishbrown branches; young shoots hirsute. Leaves 30-80 x 8-25 mm, oblong-lanceolate, glabrous or ciliate, thin, narrowed to a short petiole. Flowers pinkish-purple, very fragrant, appearing before or with the leaves, borne in clusters of 2-4 in the axils of the fallen leaves of the previous year, forming intercalary spikes. Hypanthium 5-8 mm, villous; sepals villous beneath, glabrous above, slightly shorter than the hypanthium. Drupe bright red, exposed before maturity. 2« =18. Somewhat calcicole. Most of Europe except the extreme west, south and north. Al Au Be Br Bu Cz Fe Ga Ge G r He Ho Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E)?Si Su [Da].

Both the typical variety and var. alba Aiton , with white flowers and yellow drupes and usually a more strict habit, are often cultivated for ornament and are occasionally naturalized by bird-dispersal.