Oleaceae · Olea

Rose Sandalwood

Olea dioica

Also known as Indian Wild Olive

Tree
Habit
Tree
Found in India
Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu & more
Flowering
November-June

Plant Details

Scientific name
Olea dioica
Genus
Olea
Family
Oleaceae
Habit
Tree
Habitat
Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests at elevations 150-1350 m, also in the plains
Habitat type
Forest
Distribution
India, Himalayas, Nepal
Found in India
Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, West Bengal
Flowering & fruiting
November-June
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf shape
EllipticrecordedWidest at the middle, tapering evenly at both ends.It grows up to 15 m tall, with smooth grey bark and oblong-elliptic, leathery leaves that are 7–12 cm long, either entire or with distant serrations. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Entire leaf margin
Leaf margin
EntirerecordedA smooth, unbroken edge with no teeth or notches.It grows up to 15 m tall, with smooth grey bark and oblong-elliptic, leathery leaves that are 7–12 cm long, either entire or with distant serrations. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf surface
GlabrousrecordedSmooth, hairless.It grows up to 15 m tall, with smooth grey bark and oblong-elliptic, leathery leaves that are 7–12 cm long, either entire or with distant serrations. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Arrangement
Opposite
Pinnate venation leaf character
Venation
Pinnate

Characters marked “recorded” are for Rose Sandalwood itself; the rest are typical of the Oleaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower colour
Whiterecorded
Flower arrangement
PaniclerecordedA branching cluster of clusters.The species bears small greenish-white to pinkish-tinged flowers arranged in opposite panicles, usually blooming between December and March. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Inflorescence
Panicle
Fruit
Drupe

Characters marked “recorded” are for Rose Sandalwood itself; the rest are typical of the Oleaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Bengali
অট্ট জাম
Malayalam
കരിവെട്ടി

About Rose Sandalwood

Rose Sandalwood (Olea dioica) belongs to the Oleaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and 4 other states. It grows in semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests at elevations 150-1350 m, also in the plains. Flowering and fruiting run from November to June.

Illustration representing the Oleaceae family
Botanical family

Oleaceae

Olive/Jasmine family

Rose Sandalwood belongs to the Oleaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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