Oleaceae - Olive family

Trees, shrubs, climbers or suffrutices. Stipules 0. Leaves opposite, rarely whorled or alternate, simple or 1-pinnate. Domatia sometimes present. Inflorescence cymose or often paniculate. Flowers usually bisexual, less often unisexual. Calyx gamosepalous, lobes 4-many. Corolla gamopetalous, lobes 4-many. Stamens 2. Ovary superior, 2-locular. Style 1, usually with 2-lobed stigma. Fruit a berry, drupe, capsule or samara. Seeds sometimes winged.

Worldwide: 24 genera and 600 species, more or less cosmopolitan.

Zimbabwe: 6 genera and 17 taxa.