Ligustrum vulgare
L. European PrivetShrub to c. 5 m high, evergreen in Victoria (deciduous in colder climates); stems with white lenticels, finely pubescent when young. Leaves lanceolate to elliptic, mostly 2.5–6 cm long and 8–20 mm wide, acute, margins recurved, c. concolorous, glabrous; petiole 1–3 mm long. Panicles terminal, 3–8 cm long, dense, pyramidal; pedicels 1–2 mm long. Flowers strongly scented; calyx c. 1.5 mm long, with obscure triangular teeth; corolla 4–5 mm long, white or cream, tube less than or about as long as the lobes which are slightly reflexed at anthesis; stamens c. 2.5 mm long, anthers exserted. Berry ovoid to globose, 5–6 mm diam., fleshy, lustrous, blue-black; seeds usually 2. Flowers spring.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, DunT, NIS, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz. Also naturalised in SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. Native to the Mediterranean region. A commonly grown hedge plant that occasionally becomes established outside gardens in Victoria.
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Oleaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 477–483. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning
