Ruscus L., Sp. Pl. 1041. 1753; Gen. Pl. 5: 1008. 1754; Baker, Jour. Linn. Soc. 14: 629. 1875; Boiss., Fl. Or. 5: 340. 1884; Hutch., Fam. Flow. Pl. Monocots 2: 111. 1934; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 4.

Monoecious or dioecious; erect, evergreen shrubs generally growing up to 1 m tall. Leaves scarious, minute. Cladodes green, persistent, flat, parallel-veined, oblong to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic. Flowers unisexual, borne on the upper or lower surface of the cladodes. Perianth segments 6, free, in 2 whorls, the inner 3 narrower. Male Flower: Stamens 3, filaments united into a tube, anthers 3, sessile, inserted at top of tube. Female Flower: Ovary stipitate, trilocular; ovules 2 in each locule. Berry fleshy, 1-2 seeded.

6 species

Ruscus hypophyllum L., Sp. Pl. 1041. 1753; Baker, Jour. Linn. Soc. 14: 630. 1875; Boiss., Fl. Or. 5: 341. 1884; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kash. 57. 1972; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p.4.

Erect undershrub, 40-50 cm tall. Stem simple, finely ribbed. Cladodes 6-9 cm x 2.7-6.5 cm, upper alternate, lower opposite or whorled, green, persistent, flat, parallel-veined, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, attenuated at base, apically acuminate, occasionally emarginate. Leaves scaly, 7-16 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, membranous, bearing cladodes in axils. Flowers unisexual. Male flowers few in number (up to 6), borne in racemose manner with condensed inflorescence axis nearly in middle of cladodes on upper or lower side. Bracts small, ca. 2 mm x 1 mm, lanceolate, acute, scaly, brown; pedicels 7-10 mm long. Tepals 6, in 2 whorls of 3 each, free; outer tepals ca. 4.5 mm x 1.6 mm, oblong, obtuse; inner tepals smaller and narrower, ca. 4 mm x 1 mm, subacute. Stamens 3, filaments connate to form a pyriform or obovate cylindrical structure, blue in colour, always inclined laterally; anthers 3, present at top of tube, connate.

Female flowers and fruit not observed.

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