The olive family is a family of flowering plants known to botanists as the Oleaceae. The Oleaceae have about 25 genera and over 500 species. Most species are native to temperate and tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The best known trees of this family are olive and ash, while the most familiar shrubs are privet, lilac, and golden bell, all popular ornamental plants.
The flowers of most species have radial symmetry, in that any longitudinal section through the center of the flower would divide it into two identical halves. The flowers of some species are bisexual, in which both male and female organs are present. The flowers of other species are unisexual, in that they have male organs or female organs, but not both. The flowers of most species have four sepal…
The olive tree (Olea europea) is the best known and most economically important species in this family. This Mediterranean native produces olives and olive oil. Italy and Greece are the major producers of these products. However, olive trees are now cultivated throughout the world, including southern California, South America, and Australia. Olive trees cannot withstand cold winter temperatures. O…
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