Syringa vulgaris L.

Rhizomatous shrub to c. 5 m high, often forming a dense thicket; vegetative parts glabrous, except for short glandular hairs when young. Shoots angular. Petioles to c. 3 cm long, slender. Lamina 3–12 × 2–8 cm, broad-ovate; base commonly subcordate, sometimes broad-cuneate or truncate; apex acute or acuminate. Panicles large and erect, up to 15 cm long (longer in cultivated plants), usually axillary from paired apical buds; branches with minute glandular hairs; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate to linear-subulate, sometimes > pedicels. Fls mauve, very fragrant. Calyx c. 2 mm long, with minute glandular hairs; lobes broad and shallow. Corolla tube 6–8 mm long; lobes 4–6 mm long, oblong or elliptic-oblong, rounded or obtuse. Anthers subsessile, 1.5–1.8 mm long, near apex of tube. Style and stigma = or < corolla tube. Capsule 1–1.5 cm long, acute or acuminate.

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

Flowering: Sep.–Nov.