Shrubs, deciduous or evergreen, to 1.5 m. Stems erect, procumbent, or prostrate, branched, not jointed, thick, glabrous or glabrescent. Leaves clustered distally, sessile or subsessile; blade obovate or oblong to lanceolate, surfaces glabrous or hairy. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, capitate, fasciculate, or racemose, flowers sessile [petiolate]; bracts 0. Flowers: hypanthium tubular to narrowly funnelform; calyx 4-lobed, lobes spreading or slightly reflexed; petals absent; stamens 8, usually included, in distal 1/2 of tube; style included, short or absent; stigma capitate. Fruits drupaceous, yellow, red, or black, fleshy, hypanthium not persistent.

Distribution

Introduced; s, c Europe, n Africa, Asia, temperate and subtropical, widely cultivated in temperate areas.

Discussion

Species 70 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

Brickell C. D. and B. Mathew. 1976. Daphne: The Genus in the Wild and in Cultivation. Woking. Halda, J. J. 2001. The Genus Daphne. Dobré.

Lower Taxa

Daphne laureola, Daphne mezereum

Key

1	Leaves deciduous; branches glabrescent; leaf blades membranous, adaxial surface matte; hypanthia pink, red, or white; drupes red or yellow.	Daphne mezereum
1	Leaves persistent; branches glabrous; leaf blades coriaceous, adaxial surface shiny; hypanthia yellow-green or yellow; drupes black.	Daphne laureola