WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
a berry (drupe) containing a i-seeded stone. Small shrubs, or in some exotic species, trees, with 
undivided (simple), entire leaves, which are usually alternate. 
(1) Mezereon. (Daph'ne Mezereum.) — Flowers pink, appearing before the leaves; berries 
red. 
(2) Laurel Spurge. (Daph'ne Laureola.) — Flowers green ; berries black ; leaves evergreen. 
1. Mezereon. (Daph'ne Mezereum. Linn.) — As just described. A shrub with sweet- 
scented, stalkless (sessile), pink flowers, f inch across, in clusters of 2-4 together down the 
branch, appearing before the leaves ; and red berries about the size of a red currant. The shrub 
is 1-3 feet high, erect, and with few branches ; and the entire leaves are inversely egg-shaped 
(obovate) or lance-shaped. 
Rare, local. In woods ; chiefly in southern and central England, introduced into southern 
Scotland, and not known in Ireland. February — April. Shrub. 
2. Laurel Spurge. (Daph'ne Laureola. Linn.) — A species with drooping, pale 
yellowish-green, sweet-scented, funnel-shaped flowers, about | inch long, with noticeable pale 
green bracts at the base, in clusters on short stalks in the axils of some of the upper leaves ; and 
black berries. [As described in the genus Daphne.] The stem is 1-3 feet high, woody, very 
little branched, smooth, erect, and naked, except at the top where it is clothed with evergreen 
lance-shaped or inversely egg-shaped (obovate) leaves, and in due season flowers or fruits. 
[ Plate 44. 
Not common. In woods; throughout England, and introduced into a few parts of Scotland. 
February — April. Shrub. 
