sempervirens – evergreen (Latin)

Native range: Europe, N. Africa, Turkey

Leaves:

• opposite
• entire
• small leaf
• short petiole
• leathery
• many leaves slightly concave
• elliptic, obtuse, or emarginate at apex
• yellowish-green and lustrous on both upper and lower surfaces

Flowers:

• inflorescence – axillary or terminal clusters
• small female flower in center surrounded by several male flowers.
• female flowers:
  • apetalous
  • 6 sepals
  • 3 styles
• male flowers:
  • 4 sepals
  • 4 stamens (longer than sepals)
  • Yellow-green

Fruit:

• distinctive 3 horned capsule (but often not seen)

Other characteristics:

• shrub
• evergreen
• many branches
• leaves have a distinctive smell likened to cat urine

Relevant info:

• heavily used in hedges & topiaries
• new leaves in “cabbage head” may indicate insect or disease problem
• has become locally naturalized in parts of North America

Ecology & Adaptations:

• native primarily to open woodlands and rocky hillsides in southern Europe, northern Africa and western Asia
  • usually in understory of forests of larger trees, most commonly associated with European beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests, but also sometimes in open dry montane scrub, particularly in the Mediterranean region
  • typically grows on soils derived from chalk, limestone
• chemical compounds (alkaloids) in leaves protect against microbial infection and herbivory
• drought tolerant – leathery leaves help retain water
• evergreen leaves help preserve nutrients in low- nutrient soils
• leaves accumulate red carotenoids to maintain protection from solar radiation, while green chlorophyll decreases during winter acclimation