Wild Privet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European privet
• wild privet
• common privet
• privet
• privet-hedge

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligustrum vulgare subsp. italicum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. italicum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. pendulum
• Ligustrum sempervirens
• Ligustrum vulgare f. buxifolium
• Ligustrum vulgare f. aureum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. aureovariegatum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. xanthocarpum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. chlorocarpum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. glaucum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. sempervirens
• Ligustrum vulgare var. coombei
• Ligustrum vulgare pendulum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. chlorocarpum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. insulense
• Ligustrum vulgare var. aureovariegatum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. argenteovariegatum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. leucocarpum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. buxifolium
• Ligustrum insulare
• Ligustrum vulgare var. xanthocarpum
• Ligustrum vicinum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. variegatum
• Ligustrum decipiens
• Ligustrum vulgare var. glaucum
• Ligustrum album
• Ligustrum vulgare var. auriflorum
• Ligustrum oviforme
• Ligustrum vulgare var. pendulum
• Ligustrum insulense
• Ligustrum vulgare var. pyramidale
• Ligustrum italicum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. laurifolium
• Ligustrum lodense
• Ligustrum vulgare var. atrovirens
• Ligustrum vulgare var. aureum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. nanum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. macrophyllum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. lodense
• Ligustrum vulgare var. rupicola
• Ligustrum vulgare f. rupicola
• Ligustrum vulgare f. argenteovariegatum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. leucocarpum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. densiflorum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. densiflorum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. auriflorum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. flaviflorum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. triphyllum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. microphyllum
• Ligustrum vulgare var. lactiflorum
• Ligustrum vulgare f. pyramidale

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales. Finally, it resides in the family Oleaceae and is identified by the genus Ligustrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Denmark. Additionally, its presence extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also established in Norway. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligustrum vulgare is characterized by its ability to thrive in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often adapts to human-disturbed landscapes. Its distribution across varying altitudes is notable, spanning an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL and reaches a maximum of 1400 m AMSL, although data regarding its mean elevation suggests a broader ecological presence reaching up to 2100 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Ligustrum vulgare is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground level on woody stems, a structural trait that supports its robust growth habit. Furthermore, it exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes. While it primarily functions as a phanerophyte, its growth architecture can also be classified under the nanophanerophyte category depending on the specific development of its woody structures.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligustrum vulgare is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a self-supporting shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant height variability, with individual specimens typically ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 3.73 m. As a self-supporting woody species, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as lianas or vines, maintaining a stable, upright structure within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3.73333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ligustrum vulgare is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate woody shrubs. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrients for its metabolic requirements. Its foliar morphology is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaf forms described as elliptic. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, while the width varies from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.6 cm. The average leaf size is approximately 6.269 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 111.5 cm²/g, reflecting its structural leaf mass density and resource allocation strategies.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.269 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

111.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligustrum vulgare is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects, which facilitates the fertilization process as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The flowering period typically occurs between June and July, featuring white flowers that range in width from 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. These flowers are arranged in paniculate inflorescences, with lengths varying between 0.06 m and 0.08 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent black berries. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.755 cm and a mean width of 0.705 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.85 cm). The seeds contained within the fruit have a mean length of 5 mm, a mean mass of approximately 0.0259 g (ranging from 0.01137 g to 0.042 g), and a consistent volume of 24 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous mechanism, specifically endozoochory, where animals consume the fruit to spread the seeds. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction via these insect-pollinated flowers and animal-dispersed fruits the primary method of propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

0.6 cm

Flower width min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.755 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.85 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.705 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.08 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.06 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.042 g

Seed mass mean:

0.025908389 g

Seed mass min:

0.01137 g

Seed volume max:

24 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ligustrum vulgare has 3 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 leaf, fruit, flower.

Leaf

1. Planta medica
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Scientific reports

Flower

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Ligustrum vulgare has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Oleuropein, Apigenin 7-O-glucoside, Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside, Behenic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Planta medica
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Oleuropein

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Apigenin 7-O-glucoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Apigenin 7-O-rutinoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Echinacoside

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Iridoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ligustroflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malvidin-3-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ligustrum vulgare has 60 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Diuretic, ACE-Inhibitor, Adaptogenic, Allelopathic, Allergenic.

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Adaptogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiReye's

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Ligustrum vulgare has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Helicobacter pylori, diuretic, hypertension, inflammation, sore throats.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations