Leycesteria formosana

The Himalayan honesuckle or Himalaya nutmeg is a multi-caned deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle or Caprifoliaceae family. It is native to forested areas of the Himalayas and southwestern China.

• It has soft, hollow, bamboo-like upright green stems 1–2 m tall, which only last for 2–5 years before collapsing and being replaced by new stems from the roots.
• Leaves are opposite, undivided, long-pointed, cordate-based, ovate dark green, 5 to 17 cm long and 4–9 cm broad, with an entire or wavy margin.
• Flowers are produced on 5–10 cm long pendulous terminal and auxiliary racemes; each flower is small, white, subtended by a purple bract, blooming from June to September.
• Fruit is a small, fleshy, edible purple-black berry 1 cm in diameter, eaten by birds which disperse the seeds.