Olea europaea

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Oleaceae

Genus

Olea

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

evergreen

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

slow

Height

10 m

Spread

8 m

Fertility

Self fertile, Wind

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Olive fruits are widely used, especially in the Mediterranean, as a relish and flavouring for foods. The fruit is usually pickled or cured with water, brine, oil, salt or lye^{[11][17][18][26][9]}. They can also be dried in the sun and eaten without curing when they are called 'fachouilles'^[9]. The cured fruits are eaten as a relish, stuffed with pimentos or almonds, or used in breads, soups, salads etc^[9]. 'Olives schiacciate' are olives picked green, crushed, cured in oil and used as a salad^[9]. The fruit contains 20 - 50µ vitamin D per 100g^[24]. The fruit is up to 4cm long^[12]. The seed is rich in an edible non-drying oil, this is used in salads and cooking and, because of its distinct flavour, is considered a condiment^{[18][19][21][26][7][9]}. There are various grades of the oil, the finest (known as 'Extra Virgin') is produced by cold pressing the seeds without using heat or chemical solvents^[15]. The seed of unpalatable varieties is normally used and this oil has the lowest percentage of acidity and therefore the best flavour^[15]. Other grades of the oil come from seeds that are heated (which enables more oil to be expressed but has a deleterious effect on the quality) or from using chemical solvents on seed that has already been pressed for higher grades of oil. Olive oil is mono-unsaturated and regular consumption is thought to reduce the risk of circulatory diseases^[15]. The seed contains albumen, it is the only seed known to do this^[23]. Leaves^[11]. No more details are given. An edible manna is obtained from the tree^[9].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The oil from the pericarp is cholagogue, a nourishing demulcent, emollient and laxative^[18][14][16]. Eating the oil reduces gastric secretions and is therefore of benefit to patients suffering from hyperacidity^[15]. The oil is also used internally as a laxative and to treat peptic ulcers^[18][15]. It is used externally to treat pruritis, the effects of stings or burns and as a vehicle for liniments^[18][14]. Used with alcohol it is a good hair tonic and used with oil of rosemary it is a good treatment for dandruff^[18][14]. The oil is also commonly used as a base for liniments and ointments^[14]. The leaves are antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge and sedative^[18][14]. A decoction is used in treating obstinate fevers, they also have a tranquillising effect on nervous tension and hypertension^[18][15]. Experimentally, they have been shown to decrease blood sugar levels by 17 - 23%^[16]. Externally, they are applied to abrasions^[15]. The bark is astringent, bitter and febrifuge^[18][16]. It is said to be a substitute for quinine in the treatment of malaria^[16]. In warm countries the bark exudes a gum-like substance that has been used as a vulnerary^[18]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Complete exhaustion' and 'Mental fatigue'^[13].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The non-drying oil obtained from the seed is also used for soap making, lighting and as a lubricant^[14][19][26]. The oil is a good hair tonic and dandruff treatment^[14]. Maroon and purple dyes are obtained from the whole fresh ripe fruits^[6]. Blue and black dyes are obtained from the skins of fresh ripe fruits^[6]. A yellow/green dye is obtained from the leaves^[6]. Plants are used to stabilize dry dusty hillsides^[12]. Wood - very hard, heavy, beautifully grained, takes a fine polish and is slightly fragrant. It is used in turnery and cabinet making, being much valued by woodworkers^{[18][23][19][2]}.

Ecology and functions

Environment

Range

S. Europe - Mediterranean.

Habitat

Woods and scrub in dry rocky places^[20].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 8+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

drought

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a loamy soil^[1] and tolerating infertile soils^[12], it prefers a well-drained deep fertile soil^[12]. A drought resistant plant once established, it succeeds in dry soils^[12]. Requires a sunny position^[17]. Tolerates salty air^[22]. Plants are slow-growing and very long-lived^[10]. The olive is very commonly cultivated in Mediterranean climates for its edible seed, there are many named varieties^[4][9]. Trees can produce a crop when they are 6 years old and continue producing a commercial yield for the next 50 years^[12] - many trees continue to give good yields for hundreds of years, even when their trunk is hollow^[18]. They succeed outdoors in the milder areas of Britain^[3], though plants rarely produce fruit when grown in this country^[18][8][12], preferring warm temperate regions with mild moist winters and hot dry summers^[12]. Some reports say that trees often fruit in south-western England^[3][22]. Generally, older trees are hardy to about -10°c^[17][12]. They require the protection of a south facing wall when grown in the London area^[3]. At least some cultivars are self-fertile^[12]. Some cultivars have been selected mainly for their fruits whilst others have been selected for their oil^[12]. 'Mission' is grown for its edible fruits. It is vigorous, prolific and very cold resistant^[12]. 'Moraiolo' is grown for its oil, it is very hardy and strong-growing^[12]. Flower production depends on a 12 - 15 week period of diurnally fluctuating temperatures with at least 2 months averaging below 10°c^[12]. Pruning can encourage non-fruiting water-shoots^[12]. Weighing down or arching the branches can encourage fruiting^[12]. The plants fruit best on wood that is one year old so any pruning should take this into account^[15]. An olive branch is a traditional symbol of peace^[5], laurel leaves were used by the ancient Greeks to crown winners of the Olympic games^[18]. Plants have male flowers and bisexual flowers^[12].

Related plants

• Chionanthus virginicusFringe Tree
• Fontanesia phillyreoides fortuneiXue Liu
• Forestiera acuminataSwamp Privet
• Forestiera neomexicanaWild Olive

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

   ↩

3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3

4. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

   ↩

5. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

   ↩

6. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

   ↩1↩2↩3

7. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

   ↩

8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

   ↩

9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16↩17

13. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

    ↩

14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

16. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

17. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2↩3

18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14

19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

20. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

21. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

22. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩1↩2

23. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2

24. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

25. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

26. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩1↩2↩3