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<pre>I have just come back from a very pleasant holiday in Norfolk Island. The
island has a lot of feral African olive trees. Does anyone know anything
about this type of olive? Can it be used to make oil?

Alfred Poulos
www.megistioils.com
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<pre>Dear Alfred

The feral olive in Africa is known as Olea Europaea ssp.Africana. It is
evidently found from Cape to Cairo, often on the banks of rivers and
streams. It seems to have a quite a wet-tolerant root system. However, early
experiments in California (by Prof. H. Hartman, if my memory serves me
correctly) with this rootstock showed poor compatibility with cultivars like
Sevillano, etc.

The olive industry in South Africa was based on grafting or budding European
and other cultivars onto this rootstock (late 19th and early 20th century).
However, most trees were planted with graft line below soil level, in order
for the scion rootstock to take over.

Africana produces a very small, round fruit, substantially less than half
the size of an Arbequino, and is not regarded as having any commercial value
as a fruit producer. It does, however, have a beautiful, fine-grained hard
wood, ideal for turning or carving. It is widely used as an ornamental tree,
as it has lovely deep green, dense foliage, and spreading growth habit. It
is seems to be somewhat more resistant to leaf-eating insects.

If the trees you saw were producing fruit of a useful size, I would imagine
that it could be some other local seedling which has taken over. I would be
interested to hear more about the actual size and shape of the fruit,
assuming it was fruiting at the time you saw it.

Regards,

Guido
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<pre>Dear Guido,

I did not notice whether the trees were fruiting so I can't commment on the
fruit. You were right about the carving because wooden articles made from
the wood of these trees are sold on the island.

Alfred Poulos
Megisti Oils
www.megistioils.com



At 08:37 2/05/02 +0200, you wrote:
>Dear Alfred
>
>The feral olive in Africa is known as Olea Europaea ssp.Africana. It is
>evidently found from Cape to Cairo, often on the banks of rivers and
>streams. It seems to have a quite a wet-tolerant root system. However, early
>experiments in California (by Prof. H. Hartman, if my memory serves me
>correctly) with this rootstock showed poor compatibility with cultivars like
>Sevillano, etc.
>
>The olive industry in South Africa was based on grafting or budding European
>and other cultivars onto this rootstock (late 19th and early 20th century).
>However, most trees were planted with graft line below soil level, in order
>for the scion rootstock to take over.
>
>Africana produces a very small, round fruit, substantially less than half
>the size of an Arbequino, and is not regarded as having any commercial value
>as a fruit producer. It does, however, have a beautiful, fine-grained hard
>wood, ideal for turning or carving. It is widely used as an ornamental tree,
>as it has lovely deep green, dense foliage, and spreading growth habit. It
>is seems to be somewhat more resistant to leaf-eating insects.
>
>If the trees you saw were producing fruit of a useful size, I would imagine
>that it could be some other local seedling which has taken over. I would be
>interested to hear more about the actual size and shape of the fruit,
>assuming it was fruiting at the time you saw it.
>
>Regards,
>
>Guido
>
>
>
>
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