Azara microphylla Hook.f.
vanilla tree
Small tree or sometimes a large shrub, usually with densely bushy habit. Shoots densely hairy, slender. Petiole hairy, 1-4 mm long. Lamina 1-3 × 0.6-1.5 cm, elliptic to obovate, serrate on vegetative shoots, usually entire or slightly toothed on reproductive shoots, shining on both surfaces, dark green above, glabrous except for hairs on midrib above and sometimes below; veins impressed above. Stipules similar to lvs but ?-1/2 size and almost orbicular on reproductive shoots. Infl. a fascicle of few, fragrant, small fls; bracts < 1 mm long, prominently ciliate; pedicels 1-1.5 mm long, glabrous. Sepals c. 1 mm long, ovate, greenish, ciliate towards apex. Stamens 5, yellow, unequal with longest c. 2× calyx. Style c. 1 mm long. Berry 4-6 mm diam., subglobose, finely red-dotted on yellow and appearing orange; style persistent, acentric.
S.: occasional, especially in the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula areas.
Chile and neighbouring parts of Argentina 1982
Plantations or modified forest.
FL Sep-Oct.
Vanilla tree or vanilla bush is a commonly cultivated sp. in many parts of N.Z.; it is valued for its fragrant early fls and glossy evergreen lvs. It rarely produces fr. in N.Z.
