Griselinia

A genus of six species of trees and shrubs, natives of New Zealand, Chile, and S.E. Brazil. Two species are found in the former country, both of which are cultivated out-of-doors in the milder parts of the British Isles. They are somewhat tender, especially G. lucida, but where they thrive make handsome evergreens. Male and female flowers are produced on different plants; they are quite small, dull coloured, and of no ornament. The attractions of both species are in their shapely habit and shining foliage (though in some forms of G. littoralis the leaves are dull green). In both species the male flowers have five minute, tooth-like sepals, five spreading petals, and five stamens. The female flowers consist of an inferior ovary surmounted by three short spreading styles; in G. lucida they have minute sepals but no petals, while in G. littoralis petals are present but the sepals are lacking or scarcely visible.