Osyris

This small, fine-textured shrub with attractive red berries in autumn looks harmless enough. Like most other plants native to the island, Osyris contains chlorophyll and uses the energy of the sun for photosynthesis. However, it also invades the roots of nearby host plants to extract water and nutrients. In the Sicilian maquis, where soil moisture and nutrients are often in limited supply, this growth characteristic has significant survival value. Plant scientists classify such a plant as a 'semi-parasite'. Small, yellowish, honey-scented flowers that open in spring are male or female. Female flowers give way to one-seeded fruits that turn bright red in Fall.

Scientific name: Osyris alba

Italian common name: Ginestrella comune

English common name: Osyris