Oleaster

The cultivated varieties of olive trees were obtained from the wild form known as oleaster (Olea europaea var. sylvestris). The wild olive tree is very long-lived and grows spontaneously along the warmer coastal areas of the countries bordering the Mediterranean. It can be bushy or tree-like in appearance and can have twisted shapes. It differs from cultivated varieties in that the younger branches can be thorny, the leaves and the fruits are smaller than the cultivated varieties. The wild form consists of highly varied individuals and is, overall, an exceptional repository of biodiversity. Some wild types of oleaster have been found to be resistant to harsh climatic conditions such as those expected with ongoing climate change. For this reason, it is believed that wild forms may play a crucial role in the future. It is not easily observed on the Island but, on closer inspection, in uncultivated land and shrubland individual specimens can be found.