Euonymus japonicus Thunb.

Much-branched, glabrous, evergreen shrub or small tree up to 7 m high. Twigs green, terete or slightly 4-ribbed, smooth, often wrinkled when dry, not winged. Lvs opposite, obovate to elliptic, acute, crenate, 2.5–7 cm long; petiole 5–15 mm long. Cymes 5-many-flowered, pedunculate, dichotomous. Buds greenish, slightly 4-angled; fls 4-merous, 6–10 mm diam.; petals green, broadly elliptic, widely separated. Capsule globose, 4-celled, pink, 6–10 mm diam., exposing the orange to deep red aril after opening.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]