broad-leaf-privet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• broad-leaf-privet
• glossy-privet
• Tree Privet
• Broadleaf Privet
• Chinese Privet
• Chinese wax-leaf privet
• giant privet
• large-leaf privet
• ligustrum
• white waxtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Faulia verrucosa
• Olea chinensis
• Ligustrum lucidum f. latifolium
• Esquirolia sinensis
• Phillyrea paniculata
• Ligustrum sinense var. latifolium
• Ligustrum japonicum var. macrophyllum
• Ligustrum compactum var. latifolium
• Ligustrum nepalense var. glabrum
• Ligustrum japonicum f. aureomarginatum
• Ligustrum japonicum var. alivonii
• Ligustrum lucidum var. alivonii
• Ligustrum lucidum f. alivonii
• Ligustrum esquirolii
• Ligustrum lucidum f. aureomarginatum
• Ligustrum magnoliifolium
• Ligustrum lucidum var. aureovariegatum
• Ligustrum lucidum f. tricolor
• Olea clavata
• Ligustrum wallichii
• Ligustrum lucidum var. esquirolii
• Ligustrum lucidum var. aureomarginatum
• Ligustrum lucidum var. tricolor
• Ligustrum lucidum var. alivonii
• Visiania paniculata
• Ligustrum lucidum var. xideense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Lamiales and the family Oleaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Ligustrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in both Portugal and Spain. Its presence also extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within Italy. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of Northern Africa, notably in Algeria. Finally, its range reaches the Macaronesian islands, including the Canary Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligustrum lucidum is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 1183.33 m AMSL. In specific geographical contexts, such as the former USSR, its habitat is highly specialized, being cultivated only along the Black Sea coasts of the Caucasus and on the south coast of the Crimea.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1183.33333333333 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

in the USSR cultivated only along the Black Sea coasts of the Caucasus and on the south coast of the Crimea

Life history

The life history of Ligustrum lucidum is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches above the ground level, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and life form. Throughout its developmental stages, it maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally, which provides a continuous capacity for energy production. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and evergreen deciduousness dictates its ecological strategy and survival mechanisms within its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligustrum lucidum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, standing as a self-supporting organism that functions independently as a non-parasitic species. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, maintaining a stable existence in soil-based environments. The plant's stature is significant, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 15 m, though it reaches a mean height of approximately 16.5 m. Its structure is defined by its robust, woody composition, which supports its upright, tree-like habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

16.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ligustrum lucidum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features an opposite leaf arrangement, with individual leaves exhibiting an elliptic form and an entire margin, devoid of any thorns or spines. Morphologically, the leaves vary in size, with a minimum length of 5.5 cm and a maximum length reaching 17 cm, maintaining an average length of 11.5 cm. The leaf width also shows significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, with a mean width of 5 cm. Regarding its structural composition, the plant possesses a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 660 mg/cm³, contributing to its physical integrity. Additionally, Ligustrum lucidum does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its physiological development.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

660 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligustrum lucidum is characterized by a biotic pollination process, primarily driven by insects. The flowering period typically occurs around April, featuring white flowers that range in width from a minimum of 0.38 cm to a maximum of 0.52 cm. These flowers are arranged in inflorescences with lengths varying between 0.08 m and 0.2 m. Following pollination, the plant produces indehiscent fruit classified as a berry. These black fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.725 cm (ranging from 0.7 cm to 1 cm) and a mean width of 0.5 cm (ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.95 cm). The dispersal syndrome is zoochorous, specifically endozoochorous, meaning seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves have a consistent length of 5 mm and exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.01689473 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.003 g to a maximum of 0.0362873 g. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

0.52 cm

Flower width min:

0.38 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.725 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.95 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0362873 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01689473 g

Seed mass min:

0.003 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ligustrum lucidum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. BMC plant biology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Journal of separation science
5. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Ligustrum lucidum has 84 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OLEANOLIC ACID, Specnuezhenide, Ursolic acid, COSMOSIIN, Flavonoids.

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Specnuezhenide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Fitoterapia
4. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

COSMOSIIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Flavonoids

1. BMC plant biology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ligustroside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Nuezhenide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Oleuropein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Salidroside

1. BMC plant biology
2. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

luteolin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Journal of AOAC International

Activities

Ligustrum lucidum has 404 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiosteoporotic, Hepatoprotective, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Chemico-biological interactions

Antiosteoporotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ligustrum lucidum has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include osteoporosis, cancer, apoptosis, hypercalciuria, kidney.

Osteoporosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. Calcified tissue international

Cancer

1. Journal of biological response modifiers
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Apoptosis

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Hypercalciuria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Kidney

1. Journal of AOAC International

Liver

1. Journal of AOAC International

Mitochondrial dysfunction

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Oxidative injury

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Oxidative stress

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Preparations

Ligustrum lucidum has 7 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous extracts, fruits, LL extract, dried fruit, extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of biological response modifiers
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Fruits

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Phytochemistry

Ll extract

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Dried fruit

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Sun-dried mature fruit

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Traditional chinese medicinal herbal extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine