Description: Small to medium, densely branched deciduous shrubs often suckering at the base.
Leaves opposite, simple, occasionally wavy-edged with large teeth or lobes; petioles short.
Flowers in terminal or axillaryclusters, occasionally solitary. Calyx cupuliform, with 4 or 5 lobes. Corolla campanulate or funnel-shaped. Stamens 4 or 5, more or less equal, attached to the corolla. Ovary inferior, 4-carpellate.
Fruit a spherical to ovoid, white, red or black, 2-seeded, berry-like drupe.
Distribution and occurrence: Native to Central & S. China, N. America to Honduras. World: 15 species. Australia: 2 species, naturalised S.A., and doubtfully naturalised N.S.W., Vic.
Text by Kerry Gibbons, adapted from R.Spencer, HortFlora [accessed 4 May 2023]. Taxon concept: Distribution and occurrence: Kew Plants of the World Online; Australian Plant Census [both accessed 4 May 2023].
One species in NSW: Symphoricarpos albus |
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