Olive Tree
Olea Europa Identification
Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: The Olive tree is an Angiosperm. Natural Habitat: The Olive tree is native to the coastal areas of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as Northern Iraq. Leaf Pattern: The leafs are arranged in an opposite pattern along with the twigs. The leaf is shaped narrow and oblong. They are 1 to 3 inches long , thick and leathery, and are blue to gray to green above and much paler beneath. Type of Seeds: The tree has a cluster of small creamy white and pale yellow flowers that appear on the leaf axils. The fruit are oblong and are up to 1 1/2 inches long and are green at first but become a dark reddish purple when ripe. Germination Process: When the fruit becomes ripe, you take the seed out from inside the fruit and plant it underground. Olive trees grow best in coastal climate conditions, in light soil, and take a long time to grow. Symbiotic Relationships: The Olive tree is threatened by the olive fruit fly dacus which lays eggs in the fruit right before they ripen and makes the fruit unfit to eat or use to make oil. Type of Bark: The bark is light gray-brown and smooth for a long time but when as they get older the bark becomes finely scale, gnarled, and bumpy. Ethnobotony
The Olive tree can be used to make olive oil, the wood is used to make kitchen utensils, bowls and cutting boards. Current Research
Recently, Spanish scientist have come up with a new way to stop the fruit fly from laying eggs inside the fruit and prevent them from eating up to 15-30 percent of the crops. They have created a mutant fly to stop the olive fruit flies from destroying the crops. they implanted a gene in the flies that makes females die in the larval stage. Males continue to live, but soon run out of potential mates. The scientist haven't gotten this approved yet but they think this will save the crops. Summary of Information
The Olive tree, also known as the Olea Europa, is an angiosperm. The olive tree thrives in coastal areas and in the Mediterranean Basin. The leaves are narrow and oblong and are around 1-3 inches long. The seeds are located inside of the oblong fruit. The tree is being threatened by the olive fruit fly because it lays its larva inside of the fruit making them unfit to eat. the bark on the tree is smooth at first but becomes scaly and bumpy. The olive tree can be used to make olive oil, kitchen utensils, and kitchen supplies. |
References
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=722
Nick Mangione (n.d.). Retrieved from http://now.msn.com/genetically-engineered-olive-tree-flies-created-by-oxitec-could-help-spain-farmers
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=722
Nick Mangione (n.d.). Retrieved from http://now.msn.com/genetically-engineered-olive-tree-flies-created-by-oxitec-could-help-spain-farmers