Deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub to 5 m tall. Branchlets covered with short, soft hairs. Leaves 3-6 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, mostly elliptic to lanceolate. Leaf stalk mostly 1-3 mm long. Flower clusters 3-6 cm long, stems covered with short, soft hairs. Flowers with tube 2-3 mm long, no longer than the lobes, fragrant; filaments slightly protruding. Fruit 6-8 mm wide, ovoid to spherical, shiny black.

SW Asia, Europe, N Africa

Naturalised at Rowville,Victoria.

Generally easily distinguished by the leaves being hairless below, and the short floral tube 2-3 mm long and no longer than the lobes.

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.