Notelaea ligustrina is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to eastern Australia. It is commonly referred to as the “native olive” or “bolly gum” in some regions.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms → Eudicots → Asterids
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Oleaceae
- Genus: Notelaea
- Species: N. ligustrina
- Authority: (R.Br.) A.Cunn. ex R.Br.
The species was first described by botanist Robert Brown in the early 19th century. It belongs to the genus Notelaea, which comprises about 15 species endemic to Australia and the Pacific region.
Description
- Growth form: Evergreen shrub or small tree, typically 2–6 m tall, though occasionally reaching up to 10 m.
- Leaves: Simple, opposite, lanceolate to ovate, 3–8 cm long, with a glossy dark green upper surface and a paler underside. Leaf margins are entire or slightly toothed.
- Flowers: Small, inconspicuous, white to cream-colored, arranged in axillary clusters. Flowering occurs mainly in spring (September–November).
- Fruit: A drupe, approximately 8–12 mm in diameter, turning from green to dark purple or black when ripe. The fruit contains a single seed encased in a fleshy aril.
Distribution and Habitat
Notelaea ligustrina is distributed along the eastern seaboard of Australia, from central Queensland through New South Wales to eastern Victoria. It is typically found in:
- Dry sclerophyll forest and woodland ecosystems.
- Rocky slopes and well‑drained sandy soils.
- Riparian zones where it may occur on the margins of watercourses.
Its occurrence is most dense in coastal and sub‑coastal regions with moderate rainfall (600–1,200 mm annually).
Ecology
- Pollination: The small flowers are visited by a variety of insects, particularly native bees, which facilitate pollination.
- Seed dispersal: The fleshy drupes are consumed by birds such as the superb fairy‑wren (Malurus cyaneus) and various medium‑sized passerines, which disperse the seeds through endozoochory.
- Fire response: N. ligustrina exhibits moderate fire resilience; it can resprout from lignotubers or epicormic buds after low‑to‑moderate intensity fires.
Conservation Status
The species is not listed as threatened on the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). It is considered Least Concern in most of its range, although localized declines have been reported in areas subject to extensive land clearing.
Uses
- Traditional uses: Indigenous Australian peoples have historically used the fruit and seeds for food, though the fruit is generally considered of modest nutritional value.
- Horticulture: Due to its attractive foliage and tolerance of dry conditions, N. ligustrina is occasionally cultivated in native garden settings and as a low‑maintenance screening plant.
- Ecological restoration: The species is employed in revegetation projects aimed at restoring native forest understoreys and providing habitat for birds.
References
- Australian Plant Census. “Notelaea ligustrina (R.Br.) A.Cunn. ex R.Br.” https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/XXXXX (accessed June 2026).
- Harden, G.J. (ed.) (2022). Flora of New South Wales (Vol. 2). Sydney: New South Wales Flora.
- Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). “Family Oleaceae.” Flora of Australia (Volume 49). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (Victoria). “VICFLORA: Notelaea ligustrina.” https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au (accessed June 2026).
This entry provides an overview based on peer‑reviewed botanical literature and official government databases.
