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  • Puffin Fratercula arctica L 30cm. Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dive frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly dark upperparts with dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with small, dark and dull bill. Voice Utters groaning calls at nest. Status Locally common. Only comes ashore in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
    144015.jpg
  • Barn Owl - Tyto alba. L 34-38cm. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes hunts from late afternoon onwards. Feeds mainly on grassland small mammals. Flight is leisurely and slow on rounded wings. Responds well to nestbox schemes. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have orange-buff upperparts speckled with tiny black and white dots. Facial disc is heart-shaped and white. In flight, underwings pure white. Voice Utters blood-curdling at night. Status Vulnerable and generally scarce resident species.
    157072.jpg
  • Barn Owl - Tyto alba. L 34-38cm. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes hunts from late afternoon onwards. Feeds mainly on grassland small mammals. Flight is leisurely and slow on rounded wings. Responds well to nestbox schemes. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have orange-buff upperparts speckled with tiny black and white dots. Facial disc is heart-shaped and white. In flight, underwings pure white. Voice Utters blood-curdling at night. Status Vulnerable and generally scarce resident species.
    157071.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155833.jpg
  • Barn Owl Tyto alba L 34-38cm. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes hunts from late afternoon onwards. Feeds mainly on grassland small mammals. Flight is leisurely and slow on rounded wings. Responds well to nestbox schemes. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have orange-buff upperparts speckled with tiny black and white dots. Facial disc is heart-shaped and white. In flight, underwings pure white. Voice Utters blood-curdling at night. Status Vulnerable and generally scarce resident species.
    155666.jpg
  • Farmland Trees at Sunset, Norfolk, UK
    145277.jpg
  • Tree canopy in winter, Felbrigg Woods, Norfolk, UK
    145278.jpg
  • Tree canopy in winter, Felbrigg Woods, Norfolk, UK
    145280.jpg
  • Tree canopy in winter, Felbrigg Woods, Norfolk, UK
    145281.jpg
  • Sunset over Roughton, Norfolk, UK
    145283.jpg
  • Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia L 70-80cm. Unmistakable. Flattened, spoon-shaped bill is swept from side-to-side in shallow water to catch small fish and crustaceans. Sleeps with bill tucked under wings - confusion with Little Egret possible. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish plumage and black bill with yellow tip; in breeding season, has crest and base of bill and breast are flushed yellow. Juvenile is similar but legs and bill are dull pink. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce nesting species and non-breeding visitor from mainland Europe. Most records are coastal.
    154341.jpg
  • Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia L 70-80cm. Unmistakable. Flattened, spoon-shaped bill is swept from side-to-side in shallow water to catch small fish and crustaceans. Sleeps with bill tucked under wings - confusion with Little Egret possible. Sexes are similar. Adult has whitish plumage and black bill with yellow tip; in breeding season, has crest and base of bill and breast are flushed yellow. Juvenile is similar but legs and bill are dull pink. Voice Mostly silent. Status Scarce nesting species and non-breeding visitor from mainland Europe. Most records are coastal.
    154342.jpg
  • COMMON DANDELION Taraxacum officinale agg. (Asteraceae) Height to 35cm. Extremely variable perennial. Experts recognise several sub-groups (sections), containing numerous so-called micro-species; however, for simplicity’s sake, here they are lumped together as a single species. Grows in a wide variety of grassy places. FLOWERS are borne in heads, 3-6cm across, with yellow florets; heads are solitary and borne on hollow stems that yield a milky sap if broken (Mar-Oct). FRUITS have a hairy pappus, arranged as a white ‘clock’. LEAVES are spoon-shaped and sharply lobed; arranged in a basal rosette. STATUS-Widespread and common throughout.
    144480.jpg
  • Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Length 23-27cm Mainly nocturnal animal, protected by spines (modified hairs). Feeds mainly on invertebrates but will take food put out by people. Hibernates from Oct-Apr. Spines are erectile and an effective deterrent when animal rolls into a defensive ball. Head and underparts are covered in coarse hairs. Muzzle-shaped head ends in a sensitive nose. Utters a pig-like squeal in distress, and grunts when courting. Familiar garden resident.
    132842.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    141213.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    143015.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    144368.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    144369.jpg
  • Barn Owl Tyto alba L 34-38cm. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes hunts from late afternoon onwards. Feeds mainly on grassland small mammals. Flight is leisurely and slow on rounded wings. Responds well to nestbox schemes. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have orange-buff upperparts speckled with tiny black and white dots. Facial disc is heart-shaped and white. In flight, underwings pure white. Voice Utters blood-curdling at night. Status Vulnerable and generally scarce resident species.
    143630.jpg
  • Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica L 35-40cm. Large wader with long, slightly upturned bill. Looks shorter-legged than Black-tailed. In flight, note absence of wingbar on upperwing; white rump extends as wedge to lower back and tail is barred. Sexes are dissimilar in summer. Adult male in breeding plumage has reddish orange head, neck and underparts. Back is spangled grey, black and pale buff. Adult female in breeding plumage has buffish orange wash on head, neck and breast, pale belly and greyish back. Winter adult has grey-brown head, neck and upperparts; underparts are pale. Juvenile recalls winter adult but has buffish wash to head, neck and upperparts. Voice Utters a sharp kve-wee call in flight. Status Nests in Arctic; non-breeding visitor to coastal Britain and Ireland.
    143632.jpg
  • Puffin Fratercula arctica L 30cm. Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dive frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly dark upperparts with dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with small, dark and dull bill. Voice Utters groaning calls at nest. Status Locally common. Only comes ashore in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
    144022.jpg
  • Puffin Fratercula arctica L 30cm. Endearing seabird. Flies on narrow wings with whirring wingbeats. Swims well and dive frequently for fish. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer has mainly dark upperparts with dusky face; underparts are white. Legs are orange-red and bill is huge, flattened and marked with red, blue and yellow. In winter, similar but with dark grey face and smaller, duller bill. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with small, dark and dull bill. Voice Utters groaning calls at nest. Status Locally common. Only comes ashore in breeding season. Colonial nester, excavating burrows in grassy cliffs. Only storm-driven, sick or oiled birds are seen near land in winter.
    144023.jpg
  • Redshank Tringa totanus L 28cm. Medium-sized wader with shrill alarm call. In flight, note white trailing edge to wings, white back and rump, and trailing red legs. Sexes are similar. Adult in summer is mainly grey-brown above and pale below but back is marked with dark spots and neck, breast and flanks are streaked. Note faint, pale supercilium and eyering; base of bill is reddish. In winter, has uniform grey-brown upperparts, head, neck and breast, with paler, mottled underparts. Bill and leg colours are dull. Juvenile recalls winter adult but plumage is overall browner, back feathers have pale marginal spots, and legs and base of bill are dull yellow. Voice Utters a yelping tiu-uu alarm call. Song is musical and yodelling. Status Locally common nesting species in damp grassland, moors and marshes. Migrants boost numbers outside breeding season and common on coasts in winter.
    145936.jpg
  • Rook Corvus frugilegus L 43-48cm. Familiar farmland bird. Feeds in large flocks (mainly on soil invertebrates) and occupies noisy colonial tree nest sites. Sexes are similar. Adult has black plumage with reddish-purple sheen. Bill is long, narrow and rather pointed; note bare patch of whitish skin at base. Juvenile is similar but skin at base of bill is feathered. Voice Utters a grating craah-craah-craah… call. Status Locally common resident, found mainly on farmland and grassland. Builds large twig nests in clumps of tall trees.
    145937.jpg
  • Landscape photographer at work on the Pembrokeshire coast near St David's, Wales
    156612.jpg
  • Greenland White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons flavirostris. L 65-75cm. Adults have striking white patch on forehead. 2 ssp. occur: Greenland White-front A.a.flavirostris has orange bill and overall darker plumage than smaller, pink-billed European White-front A.a.albifrons. All birds have orange legs and mainly dark wings with faint pale wing bars. Sexes are similar. Adult Greenland has dark brown head grading to paler brown on neck and underparts; note black patches on belly and large white forehead patch. Back is dark grey-brown and stern is white. Bill tip is white. Adult European is shorter-necked and paler, especially on head, belly and back. Bill tip is white. Juveniles are similar to respective adults but lack white forehead patch and black belly markings; tip of bill is dark. Voice Utters barking, musical calls. Status Locally common winter visitor; Greenlands visit in Ireland and NW Scotland, Europeans visit England and S Wales. Favours wet grassland.
    155834.jpg
  • Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis emerging at sunrise
    155026.jpg
  • Snow Goose - Anser caerulescens
    154336.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    144370.jpg
  • Red Deer Cervus elaphus Shoulder height 100-130cm Male (stag) is our heaviest deer. Size varies with region – southern animals are larger than northern ones. Lives in separate sex herds for much or year. Adult is reddish in summer but dark brown in winter. Has whitish rump patch and buffish brown tail. Only male has antlers: appear in spring, mature in autumn, shed in winter. Number of antler points increases with age. Calf is reddish brown with white spots. Female (hind) bleats and male utters bellowing roars during autumn rut. Common and native in Scotland. Locally also in Lake District, Exmoor, the New Forest and Norfolk.
    144376.jpg
  • Crane Grus grus L 95-115cm. Stately, long-legged, long-necked bird with bushy tail-end. In flight, wings are broad and long; flies with neck and legs outstretched. Typically wary. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly blue-grey plumage with black and white on head and neck; back sometimes appears rather brown. Note patch of red on hindcrown. Juvenile is similar to adult but head is pale buffish grey and lacks adult’s black and white markings. Voice Utters a loud, trumpeted rolling krrruu. Status Small population is resident in NE Norfolk, and successful breeding has occurred; also a scarce passage migrant and very occasional winter visitor.
    141077.jpg
  • Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta L 43cm. Elegant wader with distinctive black and white plumage. Feeds by sweeping diagnostic, upcurved bill from side-to-side through water. Gregarious outside breeding season. Sexes are similar. Adult has mainly white plumage with black on crown, nape and wings. Legs are blue and bill is black. Juvenile is similar but black elements of plumage are dark brown. Voice Utters a ringing klueet-klueet… call. Status Favours shallow, coastal brackish lagoons in breeding season. In winter, found on estuaries, mainly in SW England.
    143281.jpg
  • Barn Owl Tyto alba L 34-38cm. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes hunts from late afternoon onwards. Feeds mainly on grassland small mammals. Flight is leisurely and slow on rounded wings. Responds well to nestbox schemes. Sexes are similar. Adult and juvenile have orange-buff upperparts speckled with tiny black and white dots. Facial disc is heart-shaped and white. In flight, underwings pure white. Voice Utters blood-curdling at night. Status Vulnerable and generally scarce resident species.
    143627.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
    163426.jpg
  • Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
    161788.jpg
  • Pomarine Skua - Stercorarius pomarinus
    161560.jpg
  • Dartford Warbler - Sylvia undata
    160785.jpg
  • White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
    159769.jpg
  • Geological formations known as 'hoodoos'; the result of erosion. Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.
    159708.jpg
  • Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos
    158139.jpg
  • Snow Goose - Anser caerulescens
    160214.jpg
  • White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
    159760.jpg
  • Dawn waves break over a large rock in Old Town Bay, St Mary's. Isles of Scilly
    159692.jpg
  • Barn Owl - Tyto alba
    158207.jpg
  • Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
    158138.jpg
  • Oak Beauty Biston strataria Wingspan 23mm. A well-marked moth that rests with its wings spread flat; markings provide good camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark. Adult has marbled reddish-brown and greyish-white wings with black flecks and stippling. Flies March–April. Larva feeds on various deciduous trees including oaks. Widespread and common only in England and Wales.
    141208.jpg
  • Cirrus and cumulus clouds against a blue sky
    160393.jpg
  • Cobweb Beetle larva - Ctesias serrais. On cobweb of Tegenaria. Protected by its long hairs against the spiders whose cobwebs it frequents looking for the dry remains of insects left by the spiders. It is a relative of the well known Woolly Bear Carpet Beetle larvae.
    157119.jpg
  • Cobweb Beetle larva - Ctesias serrais. Protected by its long hairs against the spiders whose cobwebs it frequents looking for the dry remains of insects left by the spiders. It is a relative of the well known Woolly Bear Carpet Beetle larvae.
    157118.jpg
  • Southern Evergreen Magnolia or Bull Bay Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
A large, spreading evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown. BARK Smooth, dull grey. BRANCHES Large, the youngest shoots covered with thick down and terminate in red-tipped buds. LEAVES Elliptical, to 16cm long and 9cm wide with a smooth or sometimes wavy margin. Upper surface is shiny, dark green, and underside is rust-coloured and downy, as is the 2.5cm-long petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are striking, composed of 6 white petal-like segments, borne at tips of shoots; conical in bud, later opening out to a spreading cup-shape, to 25cm across. Fruit is conical, to 6cm long, composed of scale-like carpels on a single orange stalk. Flowers from midsummer to late autumn. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SE USA, introduced into Europe in 18th century. Popular in gardens here and does well if grown against a wall. In more sheltered areas it will form a splendid free-standing tree.
    156601.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155696.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155704.jpg
  • Oak Beauty Biston strataria Wingspan 23mm. A well-marked moth that rests with its wings spread flat; markings provide good camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark. Adult has marbled reddish-brown and greyish-white wings with black flecks and stippling. Flies March–April. Larva feeds on various deciduous trees including oaks. Widespread and common only in England and Wales.
    141234.jpg
  • Oak Beauty Biston strataria Wingspan 23mm. A well-marked moth that rests with its wings spread flat; markings provide good camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark. Adult has marbled reddish-brown and greyish-white wings with black flecks and stippling. Flies March–April. Larva feeds on various deciduous trees including oaks. Widespread and common only in England and Wales.
    141223.jpg
  • Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Length 24mm. An aptly-named moth whose abdomen tip is yellow. All stages should be treated with caution since adult and larval hairs cause irritation. The wings are usually held folded tightly against body at rest. ADULT has white wings and exposes yellow-tipped abdomen when alarmed. Flies June–Aug. LARVA is hairy with black and red markings; feeds on deciduous shrubs. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
    140644.jpg
  • Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Length 24mm. An aptly-named moth whose abdomen tip is yellow. All stages should be treated with caution since adult and larval hairs cause irritation. The wings are usually held folded tightly against body at rest. ADULT has white wings and exposes yellow-tipped abdomen when alarmed. Flies June–Aug. LARVA is hairy with black and red markings; feeds on deciduous shrubs. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
    140643.jpg
  • Yellow-tail Euproctis similis Length 24mm. An aptly-named moth whose abdomen tip is yellow. All stages should be treated with caution since adult and larval hairs cause irritation. The wings are usually held folded tightly against body at rest. ADULT has white wings and exposes yellow-tipped abdomen when alarmed. Flies June–Aug. LARVA is hairy with black and red markings; feeds on deciduous shrubs. STATUS Widespread and locally common.
    140642.jpg
  • Brill Scophthalmus rhombus Length to 55cm<br />
Beautifully patterned flatfish. Superbly camouflaged against the sandy substrates that if favours. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is broadly oval, anal and dorsal fins are broadest towards tail, and anterior rays of dorsal fin are separated into filaments. Locally common only in S and SW, north to Irish Sea.
    141498.jpg
  • Brill Scophthalmus rhombus Length to 55cm<br />
Beautifully patterned flatfish. Superbly camouflaged against the sandy substrates that if favours. Adult lives with left side, and eyes, facing uppermost. Outline is broadly oval, anal and dorsal fins are broadest towards tail, and anterior rays of dorsal fin are separated into filaments. Locally common only in S and SW, north to Irish Sea.
    141481.jpg
  • Bay (Sweet Bay) Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae) HEIGHT to 17m <br />
Moderate-sized evergreen tree with a conical crown. BARK Smooth dark-grey or almost black. BRANCHES Mostly ascending and dark grey, terminating in reddish twigs and conical dark-red buds. LEAVES To 10cm long, narrowly oval or lanceolate with wavy margins; they feel tough and leathery and have a pleasing aroma when crushed. Upper surface is glossy dark green and underside is paler; glands that release scent can be seen through a hand-lens. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are borne below the petioles against shoot and open in creamy-yellow clusters. Fruits are small, shiny-black berries up to 1.5cm long. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean area, but widely planted here and naturalised in the south.
    134003.jpg
  • Southern Evergreen Magnolia or Bull Bay Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae) HEIGHT to 30m <br />
A large, spreading evergreen tree with a broadly conical crown. BARK Smooth, dull grey. BRANCHES Large, the youngest shoots covered with thick down and terminate in red-tipped buds. LEAVES Elliptical, to 16cm long and 9cm wide with a smooth or sometimes wavy margin. Upper surface is shiny, dark green, and underside is rust-coloured and downy, as is the 2.5cm-long petiole. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are striking, composed of 6 white petal-like segments, borne at tips of shoots; conical in bud, later opening out to a spreading cup-shape, to 25cm across. Fruit is conical, to 6cm long, composed of scale-like carpels on a single orange stalk. Flowers from midsummer to late autumn. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of SE USA, introduced into Europe in 18th century. Popular in gardens here and does well if grown against a wall. In more sheltered areas it will form a splendid free-standing tree.
    125419.jpg
  • Cobweb Beetle larva - Ctesias serrais. Protected by its long hairs against the spiders whose cobwebs it frequents looking for the dry remains of insects left by the spiders. It is a relative of the well known Woolly Bear Carpet Beetle larvae.
    157117.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155697.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155705.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155708.jpg
  • Oak Beauty Biston strataria Wingspan 23mm. A well-marked moth that rests with its wings spread flat; markings provide good camouflage against lichen-covered tree bark. Adult has marbled reddish-brown and greyish-white wings with black flecks and stippling. Flies March–April. Larva feeds on various deciduous trees including oaks. Widespread and common only in England and Wales.
    118482.jpg
  • Bay (Sweet Bay) Laurus nobilis (Lauraceae) HEIGHT to 17m <br />
Moderate-sized evergreen tree with a conical crown. BARK Smooth dark-grey or almost black. BRANCHES Mostly ascending and dark grey, terminating in reddish twigs and conical dark-red buds. LEAVES To 10cm long, narrowly oval or lanceolate with wavy margins; they feel tough and leathery and have a pleasing aroma when crushed. Upper surface is glossy dark green and underside is paler; glands that release scent can be seen through a hand-lens. REPRODUCTIVE PARTS Flowers are borne below the petioles against shoot and open in creamy-yellow clusters. Fruits are small, shiny-black berries up to 1.5cm long. STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION Native of Mediterranean area, but widely planted here and naturalised in the south.
    101852.jpg