General Biology. Growth form. Tree.
Reproduction. Seed, suckers. Dispersal. Birds, mammals.
Time to first flowering. Normally 10-12 years, under irrigation 4-5
years. Vegetative regeneration strategy. Resprouts from base and can
produces root suckers. Woody structure. Diffuse porous. Seedbank
persistence. Long, 5+ years. Fire response. Fire kills young
plants but older plants will resprout following fire.
Notes. A serious bushland weed in South Australia. Forms
mixed age thickets that virtually preclude native plant recruitment. Eastern
Australian populations have been introduced from South Africa (ssp.
cupidata) and South Australian and Western Australian populations have
originated in Europe (ssp. europea).
Additional information. Origin. Mediterranean.
History of use/introduction. Garden escape, commercial plantations.
Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull or dig
out seedlings and small plants ensuring removal of all roots. For mature plants
cut to base and paint 50% glyphosate or apply 250 ml Access® in 15 L of diesel
to base 50 cm of trunk (basal bark). Monitor sites for seedling recruitment.
Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using
herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your
situation or state.
Management Calendar
Calendar Type |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Comments |
Flowering |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
O |
Y |
Y |
Y |
O |
|
Fruiting |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Germination |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Optimum Treatment |
O |
O |
Y |
Y |
Y |
O |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly,
O = Occasionally, U =
Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Animal and Plant Control Commission, South Australia (1999) Risk
assessment and management of olives. Animal and Plant Control Commission,
South Australia A paper developed in consultation with the Olives Advisory
Group.
- Besnard, G., Henry, P., Wille, L., Cooke, D. & Chapuis, E. (2007) On the
origin of the invasive olives (Olea europaea L., Oleaceae).
Heredity, 99 (6): 608-619.
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to
their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Crossman, N.D. (2002) The impact of the European olive (Olea europaea
L. subsp. europaea) on grey box (Eucalyptus microcarpa
Maiden) woodland in South Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly,
17 (4): 140 -146.
- Cuneo, P. & Leishman, M.R. (2006) African olive (Olea europaea
subsp. cuspidata ) as an environmental weed in eastern Australia: a
review. Cunninghamia, 9: 545-577.
- Hanson, C.S.T. (2002) A weed risk minimisation strategy for the European
olive, Olea europaea ssp. europaea, in Tasmania. Proceedings
from the 13th Australian Weeds Conference (eds H. Spafford Jacob, J. H.
Moore). Plant Protection Society of WA, Perth.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D.
(2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd
Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Muyt, A. (2001) Bush invaders of South-East Australia: A guide to the
identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East
Australia. R.G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
- Navie, S. & Adkins, S. (2008) Environmental Weeds of Australia, An
interactive identification and information resource for over 1000 invasive
plants. Centre for Biological Information Technology, The University of
Queensland.
- Parsons, W.T. & Cuthbertson, E.G. (2001) Noxious weeds of
Australia. 2nd Edition. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.
- Shelden, M. & Sinclair, R. (2000) Water relations of feral olive trees
(Olea europaea) resprouting after severe pruning. Australian
Journal of Botany, 48: 639-644.
- Spennemann, D. H. R. & Allen, L. R. (2000) Feral olives (Olea
europaea) as future woody weeds in Australia: a review. Journal of
Experimental Agriculture, 40 (6): 889-901.
- Von Richter, L., Little, D. & Benson, D. (2005) Effects of low intensity
fire on the resprouting of the weed Olive (Olea europea subsp.
cuspidata) in Cumberland Plain Woodland, western Sydney. Ecological
Management and Restoration, 6 (3): 230-232.