Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata
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| Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) Cif. |
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata is a subspecies of olive that was previously described as Olea cuspidata.
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[edit] Common names
It is has various local common names including African Olive, Wild Olive, Indian Olive or Zambujeiro da India.
[edit] Description
Description: Much-branched evergreen tree, variable in size from 2 to 15 m high.
Leaves opposite decussate arrangement, entire, 3 to 7 cm long, 0.8 to 2.5 cm wide, apex acute with a small hook or point, base attenuate to cuneate, margins entire and recurved, upper surface grey-green and glossy, lower surface with a dense covering of silvery, golden or brown scales; domatia absent; venation obvious on upper surface, obscure on lower surface; petiole to 10 mm long.
Fruit in panicles or racmes, 50 to 60mm long. Calyx 4-lobed, c. 1mm long. Corolla greenish white or cream; tube 1 to 2mm long; lobes c. 3mm long, reflexed at anthesis. Stamens 2, fused near the top of the corolla tube; bilobed stigma.
Fruit a drupe globose to ellipsoid, 6mm diam and 15 to 25 mm long, fleshy, glaucous to dull shine when ripe, purple-black. Flowers usually in spring.
[edit] Distribution
An extensive native range from South Africa, through Africa, the Middle East, India to China.
[edit] Local problems
In Australia it is classified as a noxious weed. It is spread mainly by birds eating the fruit.
[edit] Synonyms
Synonyms include Olea africana Mill. Olea chrysophylla Lam.; Olea cuspidata Wall. ex G. Don; Olea europaea subsp. africana (Mill.) P. S. Green; Olea ferruginea Royle; Olea sativa var. verrucosa (Willd.) Roem. & Schult.; Olea verrucosa (Willd.) Link
Subtropical dry forests of Olea europaea cuspidata are found in the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests ecoregion.
[edit] References
- USDA [1]
