Daphne laureola
Sp. Pl. 1: 357. 1753.
Common names: Spurge-laurel February daphne
Introduced
Shrubs to 1.5 m, branches glabrous. Leaves persistent, subsessile; blade obovate, oblong, or lanceolate, 3–8 × 1–1.5 cm, coriaceous, adaxial surface shiny. Inflorescences 2–10-flowered. Flowers sessile or short-pedicellate, appearing after leaves have matured, clustered in axils on current year’s growth; hypanthium yellow-green or yellow, tubular to narrowly funnelform, 3–8 mm, glabrous; calyx lobes ovate, 2.5–4 mm. Drupes black.
Phenology: Flowering late winter–early spring (Feb–Apr).
Habitat: Oak and conifer woods
Elevation: 0–300 m
Distribution
Introduced; B.C., Oreg., Wash., s Europe, sw Asia, n Africa, Mediterranean region.
Discussion
Daphne laureola is locally invasive in the Pacific Northwest.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.