Garrya elliptica

Garrya elliptica
Garryaceae
Jana Olson-Drobrinsky, Berkeley
This native 6' to 10' bush is usually offered in nurseries as the 'James Roof form' which has very long 'silk tassels'. The staminate plants are the showy ones in winter and Jana brought a large branch well furnished in flowers. It is closely related to the dogwood family and the leaves contain quinine. The early settlers used them as a substitute for the imported drug.