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Osyris L.
Genus comprised of by 2 species in North Africa. They are dioecious shrubs of Mediterranean distribution, although a few stands also live in the centre Saharan massifs, as part of the residual Mediterranean flora that still survives in these areas since the last glacial period.
Key to species
1 Shrub with sparse foliage, leaves far apart, linear or linear-lanceolate (1,5- 6 mm wide) Osyris alba
1 Shrub with dense foliage. Leaves lanceolate (3.5-14 mm wide) Osyris lanceolata
Updated by: H. Sainz.