Osyris lanceolata Hochst. & Steud.
A much branched, dioecious shrub or small tree to 3 m tall. Leaves lanceolate, coriaceous, from 1 to 4 cm long, with pinnate veins, 4 to 15 mm wide. Flowers 2 to 3 mm across, yellow-green, with three to four perianth segments. The female flowers solitary at the ends of leafless stalks; the male flowers in small clusters. Fruit an orange-red drupe between 7 and 10 mm diameter.
Foodplant of the Two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius. Eggs are laid in the summer and autumn with the caterpillar developing slowly in several instars during the autumn and winter, pupating in late winter and emerging as the first brood in May. The autumn brood is more prolific, with numerous specimens seen wherever the foodplant is present.
The orange fruit of Osyris lanceolata is eaten by Sardinian Warblers Sylvia melanocephala and Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla.
Local: Very common and widespread throughout Gibraltar, excluding urban areas.
Global: Found throughout the south-western Mediterranean region and also in the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Flowers mainly from March, April, May, June to July, but can be seen flowering all year round.
Grows in maquis and garigue.