Ligustrum lucidum Ait.   Oleaceae (Olive Family)   China, Korea, Japan   Privet   Wax Leaf Privet

                                        June Photo

Plant Characteristics: Erect evergreen shrub or small tree to 30 ft., glabrous; lvs. opposite, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-6 in. long, acute or acuminate, tapering at base, dark green and glossy above; fls. white, bisexual, short-pedicelled, in erect panicles to 10 in. long;  corolla funnelform with tube about as long as limb; stamens 2, attached to corolla tube; ovary 2-celled, with 2 ovules in each cell; fr. a drupe-like berry.

Habitat:  About 50 species Asia, Australia and 1 in Medit. region.  L. lucidum blooms in Aug.-Sept.

Name:  Ligu-strum: ancient Latin name.  (Bailey 796).  Lucidus: shining.  (Bailey 17).  Probably referring to the glossy leaves.  (my comment).

General:  Uncommon in the study area; found on the lower bluff at the north end of Eastbluff; there are two, possibly more, large specimens in this same area. (my comments).       The berries, leaves and perhaps other parts of Ligustrum species are toxic.  The symptoms in humans include severe gastric irritation, nausea, and vomiting; they develop shortly after ingestion of large quantities of berries; watery yellowish diarrhea, weak pulse, lowered body temperature, muscular twitching and convulsions follow.  They may be fatal.  Despite their toxicity, birds readily eat the berries and regurgitate or pass the toxic seeds.  Clippings of any privet should be kept away from children.  (Fuller 199).      The leaves of L. vulgare, which occurs along the eastern U.S. and west to Missouri, have been used as an astringent, a mouthwash or gargle and as a vaginal douche.  (Meyer 102).      A poisonous factor (andromedotoxin) is in the foliage and berries, the foliage containing more poison than the berries.  (James 63).

Text Ref:  Bailey 796.

Photo Ref:  Sept 1 86 # 3,4; June 88 # 14A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.

First Found:  September 1986.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 353.

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/7/05. 

                    September Photo                                              September Photo