Phylica oleifolia flowers

The stem-tip flower cluster of Phylica oleifolia is compact, the flowers small. Four- or five-lobed, the rounded corolla cup has a lip folded double, formed by the strongly recurved and pointed petal tips.

The stamens veer away from the greenish style in the centre of the cup, the anthers protruding over the lip where the petals meet, like sentinels behind a castle parapet (Coates Palgrave, 2002).