A genus with 4 species of evergreen shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite, simple, linear to ovate-elliptic, yellow-green to dark green. Flowers 4-lobed, white, in axillary clusters. Fruit blue-black, spherical or ovoid. Native to the Mediterranean and southwest Asia. Closely related to Osmanthus.
Phillyrea: the classic Greek name; apparently derived from a non-Greek name.
Pronunciation:
fil-LY-ree-uh
Family:
Oleaceae (Olive Family)