Daphne mucronata Royle

A xerophytic shrub common along river banks from 800—3000 m; in trans-Indus, Hazara, Kaghan, Poonch etc. The leaves are poisonous but are tolerated by goats; can be applied for abscesses. The bark is used in diseases of bone and for washing hair. Gunpowder charcoal is said to be made from the wood. The fruit can be eaten and is used as a dye for leather.

Shrubs up to 2.5 m tall. Younger branches often tomentose. Leaves alternate or scattered, 3-5.8 cm long, 0.4-1 cm broad, elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, mucronate, less often obtuse, coriaceous, sessile. Flowers white, in axillary or terminal clusters, subsessile. Corolla tube 6-8 mm long, tomentose, dilated at the base, 4-lobed; lobes ovate to obovate, c. 4 mm long, spreading. Stamens 8, 2-seriate, upper 4 antisepalous, subsessile. Ovary ovoid, c. 2.5 mm long, pubescent. Style absent; stigma capitate. Berry subglobose, c. 10 mm long, pubescent, orange.

Distribution: From Garhwal westward to Murree, 1-3000 m alt. s.m.; Afghanistan, W. Pakistan, Iran, N. Africa and S. Europe.

Fl. Per. April-September.