Species
Dendrobenthamia capitata
Etymology
capitata: From the Latin capitus 'head', with a knob-like head or tip
capitata: Having a head, referring to growth habit
Common Name(s)
strawberry dogwood
Family
Cornaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Features
Small evergeen tree to about 6 m high. Stems hairy when young, becoming glabrous. Leaves opposite, to about 10 cm long on short petiole. Numerous pale yellow flowers. Fruit almost round 2-4 cm diameter, ripening to red.
Similar Taxa
Is often mistaken for Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) but is easily distinguished as D. capitata has opposite leaves lacking teeth, and the fruit is not spiky.
Flowering
December, January
Flower Colours
Yellow
Fruiting
March, April
Year Naturalised
1922
Origin
Himalayas to W. China
Reason For Introduction
Ornamental
This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010