Phillyrea media L.

I have found no direct reference to Olea oleafolia, but is is probably Phillyrea media L., synonym Phillyrea oleaefolia Mill., a plant similar to Phillyrea latifolia L. which see.  Phillyrea media has smaller, bluntly toothed or entire leaves.  Often considered a form of Phillyrea latifolia.  [RHSD].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain by 1597.  [Loudon – The Hardy trees and Shrubs of Britain p.632/1875].

History at Camden Park

Presented to the Sydney Botanic Gardens under the name Olea oleafolia by Edward Macarthur in 1822.  Phillyrea buxifolia is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].  In William Macarthur’s code, used and explained elsewhere, this means grown at Camden.  It is almost certain that it was grown in the gardens around this time but it did not appear in the catalogues and may have been short-lived.

Notes

Published Jan 20, 2010 - 04:47 PM | Last updated Jan 20, 2010 - 05:06 PM

More details about Phillyrea media L.
Family Oleaceae
Category
Region of origin

South East Europe to East Asia
Synonyms
  • Phillyrea oleaefolia Mill.
  • Phillyrea buxifolia Link.
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Olea oleafolia 
Confidence level medium