About Tetracoccus dioicus Parry
Tetracoccus dioicus Parry is an erect shrub that grows to approximately 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall. Its branches have gray bark, and young branches are bright red. The stiff, leathery yellowish-green leaves are arranged opposite one another, clustered, or often grouped in sets of three, and may be rolled along their length. This species bears separate male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers, which have red-yellow floral structures. It blooms between April and May. After flowering, it produces distinctive four-lobed fruits that ripen to a bright red color. This shrub is native to southwestern California in the United States and Baja California, Mexico. In Southern California, it occurs in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Diego County. It grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats at elevations below 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), found in California’s South Coast region and the Peninsular Ranges.
