Daphne mezereum

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 356. 1753.

Common names: Mezereon paradise-plant
IllustratedIntroduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 6. Treatment on page 385.

Shrubs to 1 m; branches glabrescent. Leaves deciduous, sessile; blade oblong to lanceolate, 3–8 × 1–2.5 cm, membranous, adaxial surface matte. Inflorescences 2–4-flowered. Flowers fragrant, sessile, appearing before leaves, clustered in axils of previous year’s growth; hypanthium pink, red, or white, tubular, 5–8 mm, sericeous; calyx lobes ovate or obtuse to rounded, 3–5 mm. Drupes red or yellow. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering summer (Jun–Aug).
Habitat: Cool, damp woods, especially on limestone
Elevation: 0–300 m

Distribution

V6 711-distribution-map.jpg

Introduced; B.C., N.B., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Alaska, Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., Mont., N.H., N.Y., Ohio, R.I., Vt., Europe, w, c Asia.

Discussion

Daphne mezereum was used in the herbal pharmacopoeia as a purgative. It contains daphnin and is highly poisonous.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Daphne mezereum"
Lorin I. Nevling Jr. +  and Kerry Barringer +
Linnaeus +
Mezereon +  and paradise-plant +
B.C. +, N.B. +, N.S. +, Ont. +, P.E.I. +, Que. +, Alaska +, Conn. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Mont. +, N.H. +, N.Y. +, Ohio +, R.I. +, Vt. +, Europe +, w +  and c Asia. +
0–300 m +
Cool, damp woods, especially on limestone +
Flowering summer (Jun–Aug). +
Illustrated +  and Introduced +
Daphne mezereum +
species +