Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata


Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata is a subspecies of olive previously described as Olea cuspidata and Olea africana. It has various common names, including wild olive, brown olive, Indian olive, Olienhout and iron tree.

Description

This much-branched evergreen tree varies in size from high. The leaves have an opposite, decussate arrangement, and are entire, long and wide; the apex is acute with a small hook or point, and the base is attenuate to cuneate. Leaf margins are entire and recurved, the upper surface is grey-green and glossy, and the lower surface has a dense covering of silvery, golden or brown scales. Domatia are absent; venation is obvious on the upper surface and obscure on the lower surface; the petiole is up to long.
Fruit are borne in panicles or racemes long. The calyx is four-lobed, about long. The corolla is greenish-white or cream; the tube is long; lobes are about long and reflexed at the anthesis. The two stamens are fused near the top of the corolla tube, with bilobed stigma.
The globose to ellipsoid fruit is a drupe, in diameter and long; it is fleshy, glaucous to a dull shine when ripe, and purple-black. The tree usually flowers in spring.
The wood is much-prized and durable, with a strong smell similar to bay rum, and is used for fine furniture and turnery.

Distribution

An extensive native range from South Africa, through Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, India to China. Subtropical dry forests of Olea europaea cuspidata are found in the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests ecoregion. In areas where it is not native, such as Australia, it is classified as an environmental weed spread mainly by birds eating the fruit.