Forest olive
In the KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Olea
Species:
O. woodiana
Binomial name
Olea woodiana

Olea woodiana, known commonly as the forest olive or black ironwood (Afrikaans: Bosolienhout), is an African tree species belonging to the olive family (Oleaceae).[1]

The tree grows in lower-elevation hill forests from Kenya, Tanzania, Eswatini, and South Africa.[2][3]

Description

Olea woodiana is a medium-sized to tall tree.[4] The axillary or terminal inflorescences carry small white flowers that are fragrant.[5]

Fruit are produced from late summer.[4] They are oval-shaped and ripen to a purple black colour, when they are consumed by birds.[4]

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies:[3]

  • Olea woodiana subsp. disjuncta – Kenya, Tanzania
  • Olea woodiana subsp. woodiana – Eswatini, South Africa

References

  1. "Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie". v.17 (1893). 1893. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. "Olea woodiana". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  3. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Olea woodiana
  4. 1 2 3 "Olea woodiana". Witbos inheemse kwekery. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  5. Encyclopedia of Life treatment: ''Olea woodiana . accessed 2.2.2013
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