Olinia ventosa

Olinia ventosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Penaeaceae
Genus:	Olinia
Species:	O. ventosa
Binomial name
Olinia ventosa (L.) Cufod.

Olinia ventosa (commonly known as the hard pear) is a large, evergreen forest tree indigenous to South Africa.

Appearance

Trunk of a large Olinia ventosa tree, growing in an indigenous forest on Table Mountain.

The Hard-pear is a large tree that usually grows up to 15–20 meters in height. However, when exposed to harsh conditions it forms a smaller tree or shrub.

The bark is originally a smooth grey, but it becomes rough, flaky, fissured and reddish as the tree gets older. The dark green, glossy leaves appear in opposite pairs, while the pinkish-white, fragrant, bisexual flowers appear in bunches in Spring, and contrast well with the lush dark-green foliage.
The tree very occasionally bears pinkish-red berries.

The Hard-pear can sometimes be identified by the strong smell of almonds given off by the crushing of its leaves.

Distribution

Olinia ventosa is a native of the southern and eastern coastal regions of South Africa, from the Cape Peninsula to southern KwaZulu-Natal. Its natural habitat is afro-montane forests and especially the forest margins, as well as coastal scrub and rocky hillsides.

It is now increasingly cultivated throughout South Africa, as a hardy but attractive shade tree for large gardens.

Uses and cultivation

It is very fast-growing, hardy and able to tolerate poor and stony soils. As with most trees, it should not be planted too close to buildings or paved areas. The flowers are bisexual and seed is readily produced, but is difficult to germinate as it has a very tough coating that first needs to be removed. Once germinated however, the young plants grow very rapidly.

While its wood has historically valued for furniture-making, its primary use now is as a large shade tree for South African gardens. It is frequently planted for its aesthetic value, with its dense, dark foliage which contrasts nicely with the bunches of pinkish-white flowers.^[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olinia ventosa.

Chemistry

Leaves contain the cyanogenic glucoside prunasin.^[2]

References