Olinia ventosa

Olinia ventosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Oliniaceae
Genus:	Olinia
Species:	O. ventosa
Binomial name
Olinia ventosa (L.) Cufod.

Olinia ventosa (commonly known as the Hard Pear) is an evergreen forest tree indigenous to South Africa. ^[1]

Large Olinia ventosa tree, growing in an indigenous forest on Table Mountain.

Olinia ventosa is a native of the southern and eastern coastal regions of South Africa, from the Cape Peninsula to southern KwaZulu-Natal. Its natural habitat is afro-montane forests and especially the forest margins, as well as coastal scrub and rocky hillsides.

This can make an attractive evergreen shade tree for larger gardens. It is very fast-growing, hardy and able to tolerate poor and stony soils. As with most trees, it should not be planted too close to buildings or paved areas. The flowers are bisexual and seed is readily produced, but is difficult to germinate as it has a very tough coating that first needs to disintegrate. Once germinated however, the young plants grow very rapidly.

References

1. ^ http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/oliniavent.htm