Oleaceae [,, , ] is a
family of
flowering plants in the
order Lamiales. It presently comprises 26
genera, one of which is recently
extinct. The 25
extant genera include
Cartrema, which was resurrected in 2012. The number of species in Oleaceae is variously estimated in a wide
range around 700. Oleaceae consists of
shrubs,
trees, and a few
lianas. The flowers are often numerous and highly
odoriferous. The family has a sub-
cosmopolitan distribution,
ranging from the
subarctic to the southernmost parts of
Africa,
Australia, and
South America. Notable members of Oleaceae include
olive,
ash,
jasmine, and several popular
ornamentals including
privet,
forsythia,
fringtrees, and
lilac.
