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Danaë racemosa (L.) Moench

Modern name

Danae racemosa (L.) Moench

Synonyms

Ruscus racemosus L.; D. laurus Med.

An elegant evergreen shrub 2 to 4 ft high, with green, slender, erect or spreading semi-woody stems, once-branched and quite glabrous. ‘Leaves’ alternate, oblong-lanceolate, 112 to 4 in. long, 14 to 112 in. wide; bright green on both surfaces, taper-pointed, abruptly narrowed at the base but scarcely stalked. Flowers greenish yellow, small, bisexual, produced four to six together at the end of the branches each on a stalk, 18 in. long. Fruit a berry, 14 in. across, red, with a pale, saucer-shaped disk at the base.

Native of N. Persia and Asia Minor; introduced in 1713. It is a pretty evergreen with a rather bamboo-like habit. The sprays are valuable for winter cutting, and placed in vases in association with flowers, remain fresh a long time, and very pleasing in their cheerful, polished green. The plant thrives well in semi-shaded spots in moist soil. Its fruits are not borne regularly with us, but seeds can be purchased from seedsmen. Failing them, it is easily increased by division in spring.


Genus

Danaë

Other species in the genus

[No species article available]