Oleaceae Hoffmanns. & Link

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or sometimes climbers; unarmed

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate, commonly with swollen base, or sessile simple, trifoliolate (Jasminum) or imparipinnate (Fraxinus, Jasminum), entire, dentate to obscurely crenulate, pilose domatia sometimes present in the axils of the primary veins and midrib, sometimes glandular in the abaxial side (Forestiera); stipules absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or axillary, cymose or racemose, rarely one-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual or rarely unisexual (Forestiera, plants dioecious); calyx 4(-15)-toothed, fused with short tube or sepals rarely free, lobes valvate, or calyx absent (Fraxinus); corolla present or absent (Forestiera, some Fraxinus) to early caducous (Priogymnanthus), 4- lobed (except some Jasminum species), fused with short tube or tube absent, rarely tube long and corolla somewhat infundibuliform or hypocrateriform (Jasminum, Menodora, Schrebera), petals sometimes united in pairs at the bases of the stamen  filaments, petals rarely free, lobes valvate or imbricate; androecium with 2(-4) stamens, free, epipetalous, attached to the corolla tube, anthers dehiscence longitudinally; gynoecium syncarpous, ovary superior, carpels 2, locules 2, ovules 1-2(-4) per locule, axillary, pendulous, style 1, stigma 2- lobed or capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits drupes, berries (Jasminum), samaroids (Fraxinus) or capsules (Schrebera, Menodora)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1(-2); endosperm present or near absent.

Note

Notes on delimitation: Included in the Lamiales by the APGIII classification. Number of genera: 10 genera: Chionanthus L., Forestiera Poir., Fraxinus L., Haenianthus Griseb., Jasminum L., Ligustrum L., Menodora Humb. & Bonpl., Osmanthus Lour., Priogymnanthus P.S.Green and Schrebera Roxb. Hesperelaea palmeri A.Gray, only species on the genus, was endemic of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, but is reported as extinct by introduced goats.

Distribution

Chionanthus L. - Mesoamerica, Caribbean. Forestiera Poir. - Mesoamerica, Caribbean, and Ecuador. Fraxinus L. - Mexico, Mesoamerica. Haenianthus Griseb. - Cuba, Hispaniola. Menodora Humb. & Bonpl. - Mexico, Southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina. Osmanthus Lour. - Mexico. Priogymnanthus P.S.Green - Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay. Schrebera Roxb. - Peru (?). Jasminum L. - one species introduced as ornamental plant, now naturalized in South America and Caribbean. Ligustrum L. - two or three species introduced as street trees, now naturalized in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. Native (Chionanthus, Forestiera, Fraxinus, Haenianthus, Menodora, Priogymnanthus and Schrebera). Cultivated and naturalised (Jasminum and Ligustrum).

Diagnostic

Key differences from similar families: Leaves opposite and estipulate; flower with four petals and two stamens put this family beyond confusion with other Euasterids in the Lamiales. Stamens 2. Ovules 2 per locule. Fruit 1-seeded drupes. Distinguishing characters (always present): Leaves opposite. Corolla tetramerous and actinomorphic. Leaves composite - Jasminum (trifoliolate or imparipinnate, corolla present, fruit a 2-lobed berry) and Fraxinus (imparipinnate, apetalous, except by F. cuspidata from Mexico (Fragrant ash), fruit winged). Leaves simple - Chionanthus (calyx and corolla present, petals valvate, drupes with hard endocarp). Forestiera (flowers unisexual, calyx vestigial or absent, corolla absent, drupes). Haenianthus (calyx and corolla present, petals valvate, peltate scales in the abaxial side of petals, drupes with thin endocarp). Ligustrum (calyx and corolla present, petals valvate, berries or drupes with thin endocarp). Menodora (calyx and corolla present, corolla lobes imbricate, capsules). Osmanthus (calyx and corolla present, petals imbricate, drupes with hard endocarp). Priogymnanthus (calyx absent, corolla early caduceus, drupes) Schrebera (calyx campanulate, corolla infundibuliform to hypocrateriform, lobes imbricate, capsules). Notable genera and distinguishing features: Chionanthus - corolla lobes 4, united in pairs at bases and characteristically linear, sometimes shortly oblong.

Oleaceae, P.S. Green. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or climbers

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or very rarely alternate, simple or pinnate; stipules absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobed or dentate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals present, free or connate, often 4, imbricate or induplicate-valvate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens hypogynous or epipetalous, usually 2; anthers apiculate, 2-celled, cells back to back, opening lengthwise

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Disk absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, 2-celled, style simple with a capitate or bifid stigma; ovules usually 2 in each cell, axile, pendulous or ascending

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit baccate or drupaceous; seeds usually with endosperm; embryo straight, the radicle sometimes hidden within the base of the cotyledons

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

The Oleaceae is a mostly tropical, worldwide family with 25 genera and c. 600 species. In New Guinea, it is represented by five genera (including the liana genus Myxopyrum Blume), with just over 20 species in total.

Recognition

Members of Oleaceae can be recognised by the absence of stipules, opposite leaves, and especially the 4-merous flowers usually with only 2 stamens and a superior ovary; the calyx is persistent, conspicuously so in Jasminum for example. In addition, the twigs or branchlets are often pale and contrast with the dark brown or black petioles.

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs, or lianas

Morphology General

Sap absent. Stipules absent

Morphology Twigs

Twigs often whitish, contrasting with the dark petioles

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple or compound (trifoliolate or imparipinnate), opposite or rarely alternate, margin entire to toothed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or axillary, cymose, paniculate, racemose-decussate, subumbellate or fasciculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual or unisexual; calyx small, (0–)4-lobed, actinomorphic, campanulate; corolla actinomorphic or zygomorphic, limb (0–)4–9-lobed, sympetalous or divided to the base; stamens 2(–4), epipetalous, included or exserted, anther thecae dehiscing longitudinally, connective often developing into a small terminal appendage; ovary superior, 2-celled, each with 2 (rarely 1 to several) apical or basal ovules; style terminal, stigma bi-lobed or subcapitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, a drupaceous berry or a woody capsule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–4.

Oleaceae, W. B. Turrill. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1952

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, the latter sometimes trailers or scramblers

Morphology Leaves

Leaves generally opposite, simple or compound, exstipulate; small depressions occupied by mites and termed acarodomatia occur on the under side of the leaves of some species

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or axillary, few- to many-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual, regular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx hypogynous, often campanulate and four-toothed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla gamopetalous, rarely absent or with the segments nearly free; lobes or segments generally spreading and mostly four (except in Jasminum)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens usually two, epipetalous, with short filaments; no staminal disc

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, bilocular with generally two pendulous or basal ovules in each loculus attached to the apex, side, or the base of the partition

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit variable, dry or fleshy, dehiscent or indehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds one to four per fruit; endosperm present but sometimes reduced to a thin membrane

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, often scandent or vine-like; leaves usually opposite, rarely alternate or whorled, simple or pinnately compound; stipules absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers regular, perfect or unisexual, borne in terminal or axillary racemes, cymes or panicles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4-many-lobed, valvate or rarely absent; corolla gamopetalous or rarely with free petals, usually 4-lobed or rarely with more

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2 or rarely 4, hypogynous or inserted on the corolla; anthers 2- celled, opening lengthwise; disc absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, 2-celled, usually with 2 ovules in each cavity, pendulous or ascending on axile placentas; style simple or absent; stigma capitate or bifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry, drupe, capsule or samara; seeds with fleshy endosperm (rarely none) and straight embryo.

Distribution

A widespread family of perhaps 30 genera and about 600 species, occurring in both temperate and tropical regions.

Oleaceae, F. K. Kupicha. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs, climbers or suffrutices

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, rarely verticillate or alternate, exstipulate, simple or pinnate, sometimes with acarodomatia (small ± circular pits, often densely fringed with hairs) in axils of nerves on lower leaf–surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence cymose, often paniculate (thyrsoid), sometimes fasciculate, sometimes only one flower developing

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual (not in FZ area), sometimes heterostylous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx gamosepalous, lobes 4–many (obscure in Schrebera)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla gamopetalous, lobes 4–many

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 2, epipetalous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, bicarpellate, bilocular, with 1, 2 or 4 ovules per loculus, axile, pendulous or ascending; style 1, stigma capitate or bifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit baccate, drupaceous or capsular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds sometimes winged, usually endospermous

Gemma Bramley, Anna Trias-Blasi & Richard Wilford (2023). The Kew Temperate Plant Families Identification Handbook. Kew Publishing Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Recognition

Characters of similar families: Rubiaceae: interpetiolar stipules, stamens usually equal in number to corolla lobes, ovary inferior. Apocynaceae: white sap, twisted buds, stamens 5. Lamiaceae: flowers often zygomorphic; stamens 4 (2); fruit usually 4 nutlets.

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or woody climbers; branches often lenticellate

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, trifoliolate or imparipinnate; opposite, sometimes subopposite, rarely alternate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences in cymes, panicle, racemes, umbels or fascicles; terminal or axillary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual (plants monoecious, dioecious or polygamodioecious), actinomorphic; calyx 4(–16)-lobed, rarely absent; corolla 4-lobed (to 16-lobed in Jasminum), usually sympetalous, sometimes tube extremely short with lobes joined in pairs at base of staminal filament, rarely absent (some Fraxinus); stamens 2 (rarely 4), attached to corolla tube when sympetalous; ovary superior, syncarpous with 2 carpels and 2 locules; style terminal; stigma 2-lobed or capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit usually a 1-seeded berry, drupe or samara, a loculicidal capsule or a circumscissile capsule (Menodora)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1(–2).

Distribution

An almost cosmopolitan family with 24 genera and ca. 615 species.

Note

Stipules absent. Leaves opposite. Flowers actinomorphic, bi- or unisexual; corolla usually 4-merous; stamens 2 (rarely 4); ovary superior, 2 carpels, 2 locules. Fruit a 1-seeded drupe, berry or samara, rarely a capsule.

Description Author

Gemma Bramley

Use

The most important species in this family is Olea europea L., the olive, the fruit being eaten when pickled, and also the source of olive-oil.

Use

Fraxinus species are used for timber; Jasminum, Syringa, Ligustrum, Osmanthus, Chionanthus and Forsythia are common ornamentals. The olive, Olea europaea, is cultivated in Mediterranean climates.