Botanical name

Myrsine pillansii

Family

Myrsinaceae

Common Name

Grootmirting
Myrsine pillansii
Myrsine pillansii

Description

Usually a much-branched shrub, occasionally a small tree up to 4m. Bark grey to greyish-brown. Leaves ovate to elliptic, glossy dark green above, paler green below, thickly textured, apex narrowly rounded, occasionally notched, base tapering, margin entire, sometimes with a few scattered teeth; leaf stalk about 5mm long and covered with glandular hairs; flowers small, greenish, in axils, solitary or in small clusters of 2-4, stamens with brown anthers.

Fruit about the size and shape of peppercorns, purple when ripe.

After: Neville Pillans (1884-1968), botanist and curator at the Bolus Herbarium Cape Town. Assisted Prof. Henry Pearson in selecting the Kirstenbosch site for the future National Botanical Garden.

Habitat

Low scrub or bush, or along streams at margins of evergreen forest

Flower Date

May to October