Chionanthus ramiflorus Roxb.

Roxburgh, W. in Carey, W. (ed.) (1820) Flora Indica 1: 106. Type: A native of the Moluccas. Flowering time March and April. Seed ripe in September.

Olive, Northern; Northern Olive; Native Olive

Yellowish layers in the blaze.

Leaf blades about 9-17 x 2-7 cm. Leafy twigs pale, usually marked by numerous pale lenticels. Lateral veins forming loops inside the blade margin. Leaf bearing twigs about 2-3 mm diam. Midrib cream.

Inflorescence as long as or longer than the leaves. Sepals to about 1 mm long. Petals about 2-2.5 mm long, +/- ovate to almost orbicular.

Fruits ovoid, about 18-25 x 12-15 mm.

First pair of leaves ovate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, midrib orange-red, flush with the upper surface. Pale lenticels prominent on the stem. Seed germination time 18 to 60 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from sea level to 600 m. Grows in rain forest, seasonal rain forest, monsoon forest and beach forest. Also occurs in Asia and Malesia.

Fallen fruit eaten by Cassowaries. Cooper & Cooper (1994).