Small tree to 10 m, branchlets grey or brown, usually with conspicuous white lenticels. Several forms exist, including subspecies longifolia and glabra. Range is north from Dunoon near Lismore. Easily grown small tree which tolerates neglect. Leaves variable in size and shape, narrow-lanceolate to broad-ovate, 3.5-16 cm long, base tapering into the petiole; upper surface dark green, lower surface paler, texture stiff, venation conspicuous. Petiole (leaf stalk) 5-15 mm long. Flowers are racemes up to 2 cm long, lengthening into fruit. Fruit is an ovoid drupe, 10-16 mm long, bluish black.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Varied Leaf Shape
This photo and the one above show the variety possible. Some specimens have very long narrow leaves, others can be quite broad, even egg-shaped. Propagate from fresh seed, removed from the flesh. Fruit eaten by Brown Cuckoo Dove. Common names include Large-leaved Mock Olive, Long-leaved Olive, Axe Breaker and Coobagum Notolaea. Notelaea from Greek notos the south or south-west quarter and elaia the olive tree, referring to its southern hemisphere occurrence in Australasia only; longifolia from Latin longa long and folium a leaf referring to its long leaves.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Featured photo
Blue-black fruit resembles the olive Olea europaea.
