Danae racemosa (L.) Moench

An elegant evergreen shrub 2 to 4 ft high, with green, slender, erect or spreading semi-woody stems, once-branched and quite glabrous. ‘Leaves’ alternate, oblong-lanceolate, 11⁄2 to 4 in. long, 1⁄4 to 11⁄2 in. wide; bright green on both surfaces, taper-pointed, abruptly narrowed at the base but scarcely stalked. Flowers greenish yellow, small, bisexual, produced four to six together at the end of the branches each on a stalk, 1⁄8 in. long. Fruit a berry, 1⁄4 in. across, red, with a pale, saucer-shaped disk at the base.

Native of N. Persia and Asia Minor; introduced in 1713. It is a pretty evergreen with a rather bamboo-like habit. The sprays are valuable for winter cutting, and placed in vases in association with flowers, remain fresh a long time, and very pleasing in their cheerful, polished green. The plant thrives well in semi-shaded spots in moist soil. Its fruits are not borne regularly with us, but seeds can be purchased from seedsmen. Failing them, it is easily increased by division in spring.