Chionanthus ramiflorus
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chionanthus ramiflorus, commonly known in Australia as northern olive or native olive, is a species of plant in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native to the regions from India and Nepal, through southern China and South East Asia to the Australian state of Queensland.
| Chionanthus ramiflorus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowers and leaves | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Genus: | Chionanthus |
| Species: | C. ramiflorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chionanthus ramiflorus | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
|
44 synonyms
| |
Description
Chionanthus ramiflorus is an evergreen shrub or tree that can reach up to 23 m (75 ft) in height. The trunk and branches are pale, the leafy twigs are circular in cross section. The glossy green leaves are usually about 8 to 20 cm (3.1 to 7.9 in) long and 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) wide, and elliptic to oblong-elliptic. They are attached to the twig with a petiole up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long and they have 7–10 lateral veins on either side of the midrib.[4][5][6]
The inflorescence is a panicle up to 12 cm (4.7 in) long. They carry numerous small white or yellow flowers, each of which have four petals about 2.5 mm (0.10 in) long. The fruit is a blue-black, ovoid drupe about 25 mm (1.0 in) long and 15 mm (0.6 in) diameter.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
It is native to the following regions as defined in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions:[3][7]
- China: South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan
- Eastern Asia: Taiwan
- Indian Subcontinent: Assam, Bangladesh, East Himalaya, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, West Himalaya
- Indo-China: Andaman Islands, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Vietnam
- Malesia: Borneo, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatera
- Papuasia: New Guinea, Solomon Islands
- Australia: Queensland
The species grows in evergreen or deciduous forests, such as rainforest, monsoon forest, and littoral forest. In Australia it is recorded at altitudes from sea level up to about 600 m (2,000 ft), up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in Thailand and 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in China, while in Nepal it occurs between 400 and 500 m (1,300 and 1,600 ft).[4][8][5]
Taxonomy
It was originally described by Scottish botanist William Roxburgh in 1820, but since then numerous authors have put forward many alternate names, resulting in numerous synonyms now being recognised.[3]
Conservation
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed this species in 2024, giving it a status of least concern. In its statement, the IUCN cites the plant's large numbers and wide distribution, as well as the absence of any discernable threats, as the basis for its evaluation.[1]
Ecology
The fruit of this plant is eaten by cassowaries, figbirds, koels, Torres Strait pigeons,[6][9] and golden bowerbirds.[10] The leaves are eaten by Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos.[9]
Gallery
Flowers and buds
Immature fruit
Mature fruit
Trunk of large tree
