Family: volčinovke (Thymelaeaceae)
Flowering time: March–April
Size: 30–120 cm
Habitat: forests and among shrubs
The common mezereon (Daphne mezereum) blossoms even before developing its short-petioled, oblong-ovate leaves. Usually upright, gray-brown hairy branches are leafed only at the top. Fully developed leaves are up to 8 cm long and up to 2 cm wide; on the upper surface they are bluish, below gray-green. The sessile flowers, pink to violet-red in color, have a strong fragrance; up to three open together in the leaf axils of last year's fallen leaves. They are about 0.5 cm long, and consist of four elongated perianth parts (tepals), which with their color make the flowers more conspicuous. The function of attracting pollinators has thus been taken over by the bracts, which in species of the genus Daphne have become reduced. Its alluring, about 1 cm long, spherical to oval fruits are, when ripe, bright red, but beware—the common mezereon is extremely poisonous!
It grows best in shady spots, especially in the shelter of beech and mixed forests or shrubs on calcareous substrates. In moderately moist, moderately fertile soils it can be found throughout Slovenia.
