Ligustrum confusum Decne.

Habit

Shrub

Family Description

Trees or shrubs, occasionally lianes. Leaves opposite, rarely alternate, simple, trifoliate or pinnate, peltate glands present on undersurface; stipules usually absent. Flowers bisexual (unisexual in Fraxinus), actinomorphic, in axillary or terminal inflorescences. Calyx 4-lobed (sometimes 4-5-lobed, as in Jasminum), rarely absent. Petals united into a tube, typical 4-(occasionally) 6-12)-lobed, sometimes deeply so, rarely absent, imbricate in bud. Stamens 2, epipetalous, anthers 2-celled, introrse, with longitudinal dehiscence. Pistil 1, ovary superior, of 2 fused carpels with axile placentation; ovules usually 2 per locule (4-10 in Forsythia), anatropous. Style 1 or none; stigmas 1-2. Fruit a berry, drupe, loculicidal capsule or samara.

Genus Description

Shrub to medium-sized trees; branches lenticellate. Leaves opposite, simple, somewhat coriaceous. Inflorescence a large, many-flowered terminal panicle; pedicels short with flowers often in subsessile clusters on the inflorescence branches. Flowers small, white or cream, sweet-scented. Calyx c 1mm long, tube truncate or minutely 4-toothed. Stamens attached to corolla tube, anthers shortly exserted with long filaments. Style short, stigma entire or slightly 2-lobed. Fruit a 1-3-seeded drupe.

Species description

Shrub or small tree, 3-10m tall; branches rather densely lenticellate, younger parts and inflorescence branches densely white pubescent. Leaves variable in shape and form, elliptic-lanceolate ot ovate, (10-)20-65(-80) x (7-)11-25(-35)mm, apex acuminate to acute, bases obtuse to cuneate, glabrous and shiny above, glabrous to hirsute below, particularly around the midrib. Panicle branches ascending; pedicels 0.5-1mm in flower. Bracts and bracteoles present, the lower ones often large and leaf-like, decreasing up the panicle to small and linear, caducous, often lost before flowers open. Corolla tube 3-5mm long; lobes spreading, 2-3mm long. Fruit blue-purple, ovoid, 4-5mm long.