Myoporum bontioides (Siebold & Zucc.) A.Gray

Species Naming and Growth Form

Myoporum bontioides (Siebold & Zucc.) A.Gray is a shrub that sometimes reaches 3 metres (10 ft) in height.

Branch and Twig Characteristics

Its branches bear raised leaf scars, are slightly sticky when young, and have pale brown twigs.

Mature Leaf Features

Its leaves are arranged alternately, are mostly 69–120 millimetres (3–5 in) long and 23–40 millimetres (0.9–2 in) wide, thick, and elliptic in shape.

Young Leaf Features

Young leaves are slightly sticky, and have a distinct mid-vein on the lower surface.

Inflorescence and Pedicel

Flowers grow singly or in pairs from leaf axils, on a stalk 14–27 millimetres (0.6–1 in) long.

Sepal and Petal Base Structure

This species has five egg-shaped, green, glabrous, pointed sepals, and five petals joined at the base to form a bell-shaped tube.

Petal Coloration

The petals range from white to pale pinkish, with purple spots on the petal lobes and inside the tube.

Petal Size and Proportions

The petal tube is 10.5–14 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) long, and the petal lobes are somewhat shorter than the tube.

Petal Hair Characteristics

The outside of the tube is glabrous, while the inside sometimes has a small number of hairs.

Stamen Features

There are four stamens that extend beyond the petal tube.

Flowering Period and Fruit Characteristics

Flowering takes place from April to June, and is followed by roughly spherical, purplish red fruits that are 10–15 millimetres (0.4–0.6 in) in diameter, which turn pale brown as they dry.

Geographic Distribution

Myoporum bontioides is found in coastal areas of southern Japan, Taiwan, and South China including Hong Kong.

Habitat

It grows above the high tide line on beaches, around bays, and along estuaries.