Olive (Family Oleaceae)

The Oleaceae, or Olive Family, is a plant family containing 24 extant
genera and around 600 species of mesophytic shrubs, trees and
occasionally vines. As shrubs, members of this family may be twine
climbers, or scramblers.

Species of Oleaceae can be found in tropical, subtropical, and temper-

ate regions of the world, but are mainly concentrated in Asia.

Many members of the family are economically significant. The olive

(Olea europaea) is important for its fruit and the oil extracted from it,

the ashes (Fraxinus) are valued for tough wood, and forsythia, lilacs,

jasmines, osmanthuses, privets, and fringetrees are valued as orna-

mental plants in gardens and landscaping.

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