Daphne laureola 月桂瑞香、大戟月桂、桂葉芫花、洋瑞香

Common name: Spurge-laurel
Scientific name: Daphne laureola 月桂瑞香、大戟月桂、桂葉芫花、洋瑞香
Genus: Daphne 瑞香屬
Family: Thymelaeaceae 瑞香科, Mezereum family

Origin: native

Note: Toxic if eaten, skin irritant. Toxic to pets

Date: 24th March

[275] A small, glabrous evergreen shrub, found in woodland.

[281] Another plant with branch.

[278cropped] Stem showing the alternate leaves and flower stalks arising from leaf axil.

[276] Leaves dark, glossy green.

[279] Underside of the leaf.

[265]

[272cropped] Inflorescence of 5-10 flowers in axillary groups.

[263cropped] 4 sepals, fused sepal bases from a tubular hypanthium 花托筒, petals absent.

[268cropped] The above flower is likely a freshly opened one.

[262cropped]  There are totally 8 stamens, arranged in 2 whorls inserting onto the upper half of the hypanthium. 1 pistil but it is deep inside and could not be seen above.

[266cropped] 4 stamens above and the other 4 below, in 2 whorls.

[271cropped] It could be clearly seen that the 4 sepal lobes are unequal.

[271cropped2] 2 whorls of stamens. Yellow pollens could be seen above.

[265cropped] This is a special flower with 8sepals and more than 8 stamens.