About Olea capensis L.
Olea capensis L., commonly known as black ironwood, typically grows as a bushy shrub, or a small to medium-sized tree reaching up to 10 metres (33 ft) in height, and occasionally reaches 40 metres (130 ft). Its bark is light grey when young, and becomes dark grey and vertically fissured as it ages; a characteristic blackish gum leaks out from wounds on the bark. The leaves are light to dark green and glossy on their upper surface, and paler green on the lower surface. The leaf petiole is often purplish, 0.3–1.7 cm long, and the leaf blade ranges from lanceolate-oblong to almost circular in shape, measuring 3–10 cm long by 1.5–5 cm wide. The flowers are white or cream, sweetly scented, and small. They are bisexual, and grow in many-flowered axillary or terminal heads that are 3–15 cm long. When ripe, the fruits are somewhat succulent purplish drupes; they are ovoid in shape, and grow up to 2 cm long by 1 cm wide. Olea capensis produces abundant masses of sweetly scented bisexual flowers, which develop into large edible fruits.
