Schinus molle L.

Widespreading, glabrous, or minutely puberulent tree to c. 10 m high, with gnarled and twisted trunk when mature. Branchlets and lvs pendulous. Lvs imparipinnate, aromatic, 15–25 cm long; petioles 1.5–6 cm long. Leaflets 15- c. 31, alternate or opposite (terminal leaflet sometimes 0), mostly 2–5.5 × 0.25–1 cm, entire or serrate (especially on juvenile shoots), linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute or mucronate. Panicles large and diffuse, terminal or nearly so. Fls usually 5-merous, greenish white. Calyx c. 0.5 mm long, broad-ovate, often wider than long, often ciliolate. Petals 1.5–2 mm long, oblong-ovate or ovate. Styles < 0.5 mm long. Fr. 6–8 mm diam., shining pink.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.