Kingdom Plantae Family Oleaceae Rank Species | Order Lamiales Genus Olea | |
Similar Olea welwitschii, Olea capensis, Olea capensis subsp m, Cynometra alexandri, Ocotea usambarensis | ||
Olea hochstetteri (East African olive, black ironwood) is a species of tree of the Oleaceae family, often considered a subspecies of Olea capensis. Like the related species Olea welwitschii, it grows in sandy desert regions of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It is an inconspicuous plant that does not attain great height, in contrast to O. welwitschii which can attain a height of 25m.
Uses
Both these species are sources of firewood, but the wood is also valued for its prominent veins, similar to that of the European olive though finer in texture. As hardwoods they are considered suitable for flooring, furniture, carving, turning and veneers. The leaves have been used in folk medicine as an antibacterial, a property which has found some support in the laboratory.