Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Lamiids: Lamiales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Ligustrum ovalifolium
FAMILY
Oleaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about California Privet at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Ligustrum ovalifolium
FAMILY
Oleaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 153-05-003:
Ligustrum ovalifolium FAMILY Oleaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Ligustrum ovalifolium
COMMON NAME:
California Privet
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org bug_5396924
Month Unknown
)
Robert Vidéki, Doronicum Kft., Bugwood.org bug_5396925
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5446882
Month Unknown
Drupes pale green in summer, ripening to dark purple to almost black, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5446885
Month Unknown
Lvs oval to elliptic, 3-6cm, half as wide, lustrous green above, hairless, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5446889
Month Unknown
Flower fragrance causes sinus irritation in many people, per A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010).
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Ligustrum ovalifolium
FAMILY
Oleaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Ligustrum ovalifolium
FAMILY
Oleaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 153-05-003:
Ligustrum ovalifolium
FAMILY
Oleaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Ligustrum ovalifolium
2500
Shrub; Tree
Perennial
Habitat: Disturbed places, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Japan
Waif(s)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant may be causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team: New Invaders of the Northeast
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
LEAVES:
Semi-evergreen
Simple
Opposite
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
White/Cream
Radially symmetrical
4-merous
Synsepalous calyx, lobes obsolete
4-lobed salverform corolla
2 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual
Inflorescence a many-flowered terminal panicle
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Black
Drupe
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p086
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010) p034
- New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral US (Rawlins et al., 2018) p069
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p120
- Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988) p097
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p192
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".