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]
Forest olive | |
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In the KwaZulu-Natal Botanical Garden | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Oleaceae |
Genus: | Olea |
Species: | O. woodiana
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Binomial name | |
Olea woodiana |
The tree grows in lower-elevation hill forests from Kenya, Tanzania, Eswatini, and South Africa.[2][3]
Description
editOlea 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
editThere are two recognized subspecies:[3]
- Olea woodiana subsp. disjuncta – Kenya, Tanzania
- Olea woodiana subsp. woodiana – Eswatini, South Africa
References
editWikimedia Commons has media related to Olea woodiana.
- ^ "Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie". v.17 (1893). 1893.
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(help) - ^ "Olea woodiana". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Olea woodiana
- ^ a b c "Olea woodiana". Witbos inheemse kwekery. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life treatment: ''Olea woodiana . accessed 2.2.2013