Pleiomeris canariensis

A very branching evergreen tree with a relatively small crown. It normally grows from 3-5 m tall, although it can sometimes reach a height of 15 m. It tends to have shoots at the base (suckers) that are sometimes so numerous that they give the appearance of dense scrub. The trunk is short, slender, fairly smooth, and has greyish-brown bark. Pleiomeris canariensis stands out because of its large leaves, 15-20 cm long by 5-6 cm wide, and along with Persea indica, is one of the species with the greatest surface area of foliage in the laurel forest. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-lanceolate or obovate-lanceolate, with an obtuse tip. They are also somewhat hard. They have prominent veins on the underside and an entire margin, although the blade may seem wavy. In spring this tree is covered in abundant blossom. The flowers are hermaphroditic and have almost no stalks. They appear in clusters on very short and woody stems that grows directly from the branches (cauliflory). They have 5 greenish-white, very pointed petals that are joined at the base. The fruits are small fleshy balls (drupes), about 9 mm in diameter, which are a little flattened at the apex, where there is a short appendage. They are lilac-pink in colour when ripe and contain a single seed. This species differs from its relative Heberdenia excelsa mainly by being larger, with more marked ribbing on its leaves, as well as by the almost lack of a flower stalk. It is also easy to identify due to the numerous woody stems that remain on the terminal branches after flowering and fruiting.