0163 



SPURGE OLIVE 



Family: TEREBINTHACEAE [Translator's note: now assigned to the Cneoraceae 



family] 



Reproductive system: TRIANDRY, MONOGYNY. 



The spurge olive, Cneorum tricoccum, LINN., is a small ornamental bush that 

 originated in the southern provinces of France. It grows three or four feet high. The stem 

 is branched, cylindrical, and smooth. The leaves are alternate, elongated, widened at the 

 tips and narrowed into petioles at their bases. The small yellow flowers are in the axils of 

 the leaves and are borne on short peduncles. They have a three-pointed, persistent calyx; 

 the corolla has three oval yellow petals. There are three stamens; the ovary is superior, 

 crowned by a style that terminates in three stigmata. The fruit is a dry red berry made up 

 of three husks, each containing a single seed. 



FLOWERS: in June and July. 



RANGE: southern France, in stony areas. 



NOMENCLATURE. The genus name, cneorum, taken from the Greek verb knein, 

 to provoke itching, indicates the caustic property and acridity of all parts of this plant. 

 German, der zeyland, zyndel. English, the widow-tail. Spanish, olivella. Portuguese, cito 

 cacio. Commonly, Volivier humble [Translator's note: the humble olive tree]. 



USES. It keeps its foliage during the winter, which makes it suitable for decorating 

 groves in that season. 



The ancients used the leaves as a powerful purgative. But it's very acrid and 

 caustic, so it's almost never taken internally any more. A decoction of the leaves is good 

 for cleansing ulcerations. 



