A rather pretty plant from South America with subtle, scented flowers in late summer. While it stays shrub-sized in drier areas, in Ferncliffe it shoots up to become a tree – but one that then sprawls and falls and demolishes other mid-storey species.
The fruits are poisonous to game, stock and unwary children. ‘Chase Valley Disease’, a cattle disease named after the valley that borders Fernciffe, may be caused by eating ink-berries.
The tree resprouts vigorously if felled, like so many aliens do.