Daphne species are shrubs, with upright or prostrate stems. Upright species may grow to , with
D. gnidium reported to 2 m, Their leaves are undivided, mostly arranged spirally or alternately (although opposite in
D. genkwa), and have short
petioles (stalks). The leaves tend to be clustered towards the end of the stems and are of different shapes, although always longer than wide. The leaf surface may be smooth (glabrous) or hairy. Many species flower in late winter or very early spring. The flowers are grouped into clusters (
inflorescences), either in the leaf
axils towards the end of the stems or forming terminal heads. The inflorescences lack
bracts. The individual flowers completely lack
petals, and are formed by four (rarely five)
petaloid
sepals, tubular at the base with free lobes at the apex. They range in colour from white, greenish yellow or yellow to bright pink and purple. Most of the evergreen species have greenish flowers, while the deciduous species tend to have pink flowers. There are twice the number of
stamens as sepals, usually eight, arranged in two series. Stamens either have short filaments or lack filaments altogether and are usually held inside the sepal tube. The
style is short or absent, and the
stigma is head-shaped (capitate). The
ovary has a single chamber (
locule). The fruit is one-seeded, and is either a fleshy
berry, or a dry and leathery
drupe. When ripe the fruit is usually red or yellow, sometimes black. ==Taxonomy==