Phylica oleifolia young fruit

The shiny red Phylica oleifolia fruit has not reached its woody stage yet, appearing fleshy, shiny and translucent in shades of dark red above some green parts.

The three lobes of the developing capsule are visible at the top. Vertical ribbing of the transformed calyx enhances the sparsely hairy cup-shape that forms the base.

The fruit is borne on a sturdy stalk about half the fruit’s length (Coates Palgrave, 2002).