Shrub or small, broadly conical tree to about 7-9 m tall. Leaves about 10-15 cm long. Leaflets 3-7, elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, about 3-8 cm long, about 2-4 cm wide, densely and softly hairy below, stalks varying from sessile to about 1 cm long, terminal one much larger, finely toothed. Flowers appearing with or just before the leaves; Sept. Fruit to 1-2 cm long, seed about same length or slightly longer than the wing.

SW USA

Grows naturally in canyons and along streams below altitudes of c. 1500 m.

Velvety undersurface on leaflets.

VIC: Melbourne (Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Melbourne Gardens), Hopetoun Lawn, planted c. 1985).

var. coriacea (Wats) Rehd. offered in the trade and differing from the type, mostly in having leathery leaflets. [F. coriacea Wats.]

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Oleaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.