Prunus lusitanica L.

Large, glabrous (except fls), evergreen shrub or small tree, not armed, to c. 7 m high (often to c. 12 m in cultivation); trunks usually several, often becoming fairly tall. Lf petiole 15–25 mm long; blade subcoriaceous, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 70–140 × 25–60 mm, with a blunt cusp at apex, broadly cuneate or rounded at base, glossy above and below, with veins slightly impressed above, otherwise blade flat, crenate-serrate, entire near base; stipules linear-subulate, deciduous. Infl. a fairly dense raceme 23–30 cm long with 47–77 fls, terminal or in axils of upper lvs, erect or suberect; fls fragrant; pedicels 7–18 mm long, not elongating after anthesis but often turning red. Hypanthium broad; sepals broadly triangular, c. 1 mm long, obtuse, green, ± erect. Petals 5, spreading, orbicular, 3–5 mm diam., rounded, white. Stamens ± = petals; filaments white. Fr. 10–12 mm long, ovoid or broadly ovoid, smooth, glossy purplish black, very bitter; stone smooth except for marginal ribs.

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

Flowering: Nov.–Dec.; Fruiting: Mar.–May.