Phylica paniculata flowers

The flowers of Phylica paniculata grow in short, branched heads or panicles at stem-tips and from upper leaf axils. A panicle, the inflorescence shape for which the species was named, measures about 10 mm by 4 mm.

The small flowers are nearly white, greenish, dull yellow or cream and sweetly fragrant. Flowering happens from summer to early winter.

The fruit is a slightly pear-shaped to cylindrical or almost spherical capsule that becomes thickly woody and flat-topped where calyx remains usually protrude. The capsule is brown, red brown to almost black or purplish black, about 6 mm in diameter.

Birds eat the fruit (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).