Coriaria myrtifolia
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| Coriaria myrtifolia, leaves and mature fruits in July Coriaria myrtifolia, leaves and mature fruits in July
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| Coriaria myrtifolia L. |
Coriaria myrtifolia is a shrub to 2-3 m tall. The leaves are single and opposite, thornless, 6-10 cm long and 1-3 cm broad (like myrtle). The small greenish flowers, with five petals, appear from April to June in racemes. The fruit is a fleshy black berry achene very similar to a blackberry but toxic. It is especially dangerous for children who may eat it if they confuse it with edible berries.
The Spanish name emborrachacabras ("goats-drunk") refers to the leaves' effect on goats that eat them. The French(redoul) and Catalan name(roldor) derive from latin rhus tyrius (Sirian-Tyr sumac), referring to the leaves' use in the traditional tannery industry
Grows in some parts of the Mediterranean basin (South France, Spain, east Mediterranean areas etc.) Is locally very common but absent in other nearby areas (in the Balearic islands it only appears in Ibiza)