Family · Asterids

Oleaceae

Olive, ash, lilac, jasmine

Trees and shrubs with opposite leaves and four-lobed flowers; includes olive, ash, jasmine and lilac.

Accepted species: 772accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 27accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈32 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Asia-Tropicalmost native species · WGSRPD

Open Oleaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Olea
Fraxinus
Jasminum
Syringa

Genera

Jasminum203 spp.
Chionanthus148 spp.
Noronhia106 spp.
Fraxinus63 spp.
Ligustrum44 spp.
Menodora26 spp.
Osmanthus26 spp.
Forestiera22 spp.
Tetrapilus22 spp.
Notelaea21 spp.
Schrebera16 spp.
Syringa13 spp.
Forsythia12 spp.
Olea11 spp.
Chrysojasminum10 spp.
Cartrema4 spp.
Myxopyrum4 spp.
Priogymnanthus4 spp.
Chengiodendron3 spp.
Haenianthus3 spp.
Fontanesia2 spp.
Nyctanthes2 spp.
Phillyrea2 spp.
Picconia2 spp.
Abeliophyllum1 spp.
Dimetra1 spp.
Hesperelaea1 spp.

Where it grows

Asia-Tropical300
Asia-Temperate190
Africa188
Northern America70
Southern America66
Australasia31
Pacific24
Europe15

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Oleaceae sits in the order Lamiales.