Myoporum acuminatum

Shrubs or trees, broadly spreading, 20–100 dm. Stems ascending to prostrate, much branched; twig tips and young leaves green to blackish, sticky. Leaves: blade dark green, narrowly elliptic, tapering proximally and distally, 5–14 × 1–3 cm, margins entire [obscurely serrate distal to middle], embedded glands inconspicuous. Flowers 6–8 per axil; corolla white with purple spots on lobes and distal tube, tube 3–4 mm, lobes equal, 3–4.5 mm, long-hairy adaxially; anthers slightly exserted from tube; ovary rugose. Capsules dark purple, ovoid, 4–7 mm. Seeds ovoid-oblong, 2.2–2.5 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Feb–May.
Habitat: Coastal sage scrub and chaparral.
Elevation: 0–100 m.

Introduced; Calif., Australia.

Discussion

Cultivated in coastal southern California, Myoporum acuminatum is established in nearby wildlands.

Myoporum montanum R. Brown, also cultivated in California, is similar to M. acuminatum, and some reports of M. acuminatum are possibly M. montanum. Myoporum montanum has narrower leaves (5–20 mm wide), anthers that are included in the tubes, smooth ovaries, and pink to light purple fruits.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa