Myrsine semiserrata Illustration Credit: Fauzia

A small tree or large shrub, up to 5 m tall, branches glabrous. Leaves lanceolate or elliptic, 5-12 cm long, 1-1.5(-2) cm broad, shortly serrate to subentire, usually glabrous; petiole 2.5-7.5 mm long. Flowers 3 mm across, white, in dense axillary fascicles; pedicels 1-2.5 mm long. Calyx and corolla 4-5-lobed, longer than these in the previous species. Stigmas 2-3-lobed, with flat, spreading, fimbriate lobes. Drupe c. 5 mm in diameter, gobose, tipped by style base, bright reddish-purple, fleshy.

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Type: Nepal, probably Wallich 2295.

Distribution: Outer or sub-Himalayan tracts, India, Pakistan, Nepal & Burma.

A rare tree in our area; the wood is of chocolate colour, and is used by carpenters; fruit is edible.