CHAriKR WW 1 

 OLEACEiE (Olive Family) 



Family Description.— This is a family of trees t)r shrubs. 

 Tlic h'dvcs are t)j)jK)site, cxstipulate, and simple or pinnatcly 

 comjiound. 'J'he iiiJJorcscencc is a panicle, raceme. CNine or 

 fascicle. The floivcrs are repjular, and polygamous or 

 dioecious; the small calyx is four-lobed, sometimes entirely 

 absent; the reguhir corolla is four-parted, or of four distinct 

 petals, or absent. 'J'herc are two stamens, attached to Ihe 

 corolla or to the receptacle. The single pislil is compound, 

 with a two-celled ovary, in each of which there are a few 

 seeds, a short style, and capitate stigma; sometimes the 

 style is absent. The fruil is cither a capsule, samara, berry, 

 or (]ru})e. 



Geographical, and Economic Importance.- 'J^iere are 

 about 2 1 genera and 500 species distributed widely in tem- 

 perate and tropical regions. The most im])ortant repre- 

 sentative is the olive {Olca curopa^a). Other well-known 

 members of the family are the lilacs {Syringa), privet (Ligus- 

 Irum), Jessamine (Jasminnm) and ash {Fraxinus). 



OLEA EUROP(EA (OUve) 

 Description — 'J'he common olive is a small tree 20 to 25 

 feet higli. All fruit is borne on two-year-old wood, and the 

 same wood never bears twice. The lanceolate leaves are 

 leathery, evergreen, entire, smooth, scaly, and arranged op- 

 j)osite]}' on the stem. The floivcrs occur in axilhiry racemes as 

 a rule, although terminal inflorescences are more or less fre- 

 quent. The flowers are usually imperfect. The small calyx 

 is four-toothed, the corolla four-cleft, white or whitish, the 

 stamens two, and the pistil one. 'Yhc fruit is a pur[)lish drupe. 

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