Mezereon
Daphne
mezereum is a species of Daphne in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae,
native to most of Europe and western Asia, north to northern England and central
Scandinavia. In southern Europe it is confined to medium to higher elevations
and in the subalpine vegetation zone, but descends to near sea level in northern
Europe. It is generally confined to soils derived from limestone. The common
name is Mezereon.
It is a deciduous shrub growing to 1.5 m tall. The leaves are soft, 3-8 cm long
and 1-2 cm broad, arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are produced in
early spring on the bare stems before the leaves appear. They have a four-lobed
pink or light purple (rarely white) perianth 10-15 mm diameter, and are strongly
scented. The fruit is a bright red berry 7-12 mm diameter; it is very poisonous
for people, though fruit-eating birds like thrushes are immune and eat them,
dispersing the seeds in their droppings.