Oleaceae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iOleaceae

Olea europaea (Olive)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae Hoffmannsegg & Link

Genera

Abeliophyllum -
Chionanthus - Fringetree
Comoranthus -
Dimetra -
Fontanesia -
Forestieria - Swamp-privet
Forsythia - Forsythia
Fraxinus - Ash tree
Haenianthus -
Hesperelaea -
Jasminum - Jasmine
Ligustrum - Privet
Menodora -
Myxopyrum -
Nestegis -
Noronhia -
Notelaea -
Nyctanthes -
Olea - Olive
Osmanthus - Osmanthus
Phillyrea - Mock-privet
Picconia -
Priogymnanthus -
Schrebera -
Syringa - Lilac

Oleaceae, the olive family, is a plant family containing 24 extant genera (and one extinct) of woody plants, including shrubs, trees and vines. It is characterised by opposite leaves that may be simple or pinnately-compound. The calyx and corolla are four-lobed.

Many members of the family are economically important. The olive, Olea europaea, is extremely important for its fruit and the oil extracted from it. The ashes, genus Fraxinus, are valued for their tough wood, and forsythia, lilacs, jasmines, privets, and fringetrees are all valued as landscaping plants.