Murraya.
There are around 12 species (11-13) from the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia has 3 species of which 2 are native and one naturalised.
They are dense shrubs to small trees.
Young twigs have simple hairs but these are lost.
The pinnate leaves are alternately arranged.
The hairy petioles usually have no wings but there may be narrow ones.
There are 3 to 7 or more lateral leaflets that are also alternately arranged.
The leaflet shape varies.
The edges are smooth or have blunt or pointed teeth and the base is oblique.
There are usually oil glands and crushed leaves are aromatic.
Inflorescences are terminal or in the near-terminal axils.
Most consist of branched clusters of flowers but some species have solitary flowers.
The white, fragrant, bisexual flowers have parts in 5’s.
The sepals may be free or joined at the base.
The white petals are free and often linear or oblong.
There are 10 free stamens with small anthers.
Inside the stamens is an annular nectiferous disc.
The roughly ellipsoidal ovary can have 2 to 5 locules each with 1 or 2 ovules.
The single style is long and the stigma capitate (head-like).
The fruit are drupes (a fleshy fruit with a hard covering around the usually single seed).
They are ovoid or almost spherical and 1 to 3 cm long.
They can be red, pink, orange or black with 1 (2) seeds.
They are also described as berries (a fleshy fruit from a single carpel with multiple seeds).
J.F.
