Olea dioica Roxb. (OLEACEAE)
Common names
Kannada & Tulu: Bili saroli.
Malayalam: Edana.
Tamil: Koli, Payar.
Description: These evergreen trees stand 12-15 meters tall and feature smooth, grey bark. The leaves are elliptic-lanceolate, measuring 7-15 x 3-6 cm, with an acute base, and an apex ranging from acute to acuminate. They are either entire or crenate, with 8-12 pairs of main nerves, and a petiole 0.6-1.5 cm in length. Flowers polygamous-dioecious, in 4-8 cm long compound panicles, white. Calyx lobes 4, triangular, glabrous. Corolla-tube short, lobes 4, triangular, glabrous. Male flowers: stamens 2; filaments short. Bisexual flowers: stamens 2 (some times 3); filaments inserted on the corolla or sometimes on the ovary. Ovary 2-locular; style short; stigma 2-fid. Fruit a drupe, ellipsoid or ovoid, ca 1.8 cm long, often slightly pointed, purple when ripe. Seed solitary, ellipsoid, rugose.
Flowering & Fruiting: December – April.
Distribution: India: In evergreen and deciduous forests of the Western Ghats, up to 1600 m.
Uses: The tree is planted for shade. Bark and leaves used as febrifuge.