Phillyrea is a genus of two species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the olive family Oleaceae, order Lamiales. The genus is native to the Mediterranean region and has become naturalized in the Canary Islands and Madeira.
Plants grow to 3–9 metres tall. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and are small, leathery, and ovate to lanceolate in shape, measuring 2–6 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad. The flowers are small and greenish-white, borne in short axillary clusters. The fruit is a drupe enclosing a single seed.
Phillyrea is closely related to Ligustrum (privets), Olea (olives), and Osmanthus, all members of Oleaceae. The two accepted species are Phillyrea angustifolia L., native to the western and central Mediterranean Basin from Portugal to Albania, and Phillyrea latifolia L., native to the entire Mediterranean Basin from Portugal to Syria. A third species formerly included in the genus, P. decora from the Caucasus, is now placed in Osmanthus as Osmanthus decorus. More than 200 other names have been proposed over the years and are now treated as synonyms.
Distribution
Phillyrea is native to the Mediterranean region, with P. angustifolia occurring from Portugal east to Albania and P. latifolia extending across the entire Mediterranean Basin from Portugal to Syria. The genus has also become naturalized in the Canary Islands and Madeira.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus formerly included Phillyrea decora from the Caucasus, which is now generally transferred to Osmanthus as Osmanthus decorus. Over 200 names have been proposed within Phillyrea over the years; these are now considered synonyms of the two accepted species.
