Оливкове дерево

The tree

The olive tree, Olea europaea, is an evergreen tree that grows in a Mediterranean climate. Its trunk is typically gnarled and twisted. It grows to some 10 m in height, with grey bark. The leaves are oblong, grey-green above and whitish below.

Habitat

Olive trees prefer calcareous soils; they grow best on limestone slopes and crags and in coastal climates. They tolerate drought well because of their sturdy and extensive root systems.

Fruit, leaf and wood

The olive fruit is classed botanically as a drupe, similar in structure and function to the cherry or peach. Oleuropein is a glycosylated seco-iridoid, a bitter phenolic compound found in green olive skin, flesh, seeds, and leaves. Olive wood is hard, straight-grained and dense, often presenting an attractive pattern.

Leaf volatiles

Oblica is the most widespread native olive variety in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol is one of the aroma compounds of olive fruits and is also a green leaf volatile that contributes to the 'green odor' of leaves.

Olive oil

Olive oil consists mainly of oleic acid (up to 83%), with smaller amounts of other fatty acids including linoleic acid (up to 21%) and palmitic acid (up to 20%). Oleic acid, the main fatty acid of olive oil, is an odorless, colorless oil.

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Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree