Olea L.
Evergreen, small to medium-sized trees and shrubs. Shoots terete or quadrangular, often with lepidote scales. Lvs nearly always opposite, simple, coriaceous, entire, usually with lepidote scales at least when young. Fls many, small, ⚥ or unisexual, usually in axillary panicles or racemes, not noticeably fragrant. Calyx deeply 4-lobed, very small. Corolla 4-lobed, subrotate; lobes > tube, ± valvate. Stamens 2, epipetalous, ± exserted; filaments short. Stigma sessile or subsessile, capitate or shortly 2-lobed. Fr. a 1-seeded, ovoid, ellipsoid or globose drupe.
c. 20 spp., Old World. Naturalised sp. 1.
Indigenous spp. previously treated in Olea are now referred to Nestegis.
