Privet
- This article is about the privet plant in the genus Ligustrum. "Privet" may also refer to plants in two other genera in family Oleaceae: Forestiera ("Swamp-privet") and Phillyrea ("Mock-privet").
| Privet | |
|---|---|
| File:Schurenbachhalde 11 ies.jpg | |
| Ligustrum vulgare | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Tribe: | Oleeae |
| Genus: | Ligustrum L. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Privet was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub Ligustrum vulgare, and later also for the more reliably evergreen Ligustrum ovalifolium (Japanese privet), used extensively for privacy hedging. (It is often suggested that the name privet is related to private, but the OED states that there is no evidence to support this.[1]) The term is now used for all members of the genus Ligustrum, which includes about 40-50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia and Australasia, with the centre of diversity in China, the Himalayas, Japan and Taiwan. The generic name originated in Latin and was applied by Pliny the Elder (23 CE – 79) to L. vulgare.[2] The genus is placed in the olive family, Oleaceae.
The flowers are small and fragrant and borne in panicles. They have four curled-back petals and two high stamens with yellow or red anthers, between which is the low pistil; the petals and stamens fall off after the flower is fertilized, leaving the pistil in the calyx tube. Flowering starts after 330 growing degree days. The fruits, borne in clusters, are small purple to black drupes. The fruits of some species are mildly poisonous to humans.[3]
Ecology
In favorable growing conditions, individual shrubs may produce thousands of fruits, most of which are eaten by birds.
Privet is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Common Emerald, Common Marbled Carpet, Copper Underwing, The Engrailed, Mottled Beauty, Scalloped Hazel, Small Angle Shades, The V-pug and Willow Beauty.
Selected species
- Ligustrum amamianum (China)
- Ligustrum angustum (China)
- Ligustrum chenaultii (Yunnan Province, China)
- Ligustrum compactum (Himalayas, southwest China)
- Ligustrum confusum (Himalayas, Khasi Hills)
- Ligustrum delavayanum (Southwest China, Myanmar)
- Ligustrum expansum (China)
- Ligustrum gracile (China)
- Ligustrum henryi (Central China)
- Ligustrum ibota (Japan)
- Ligustrum indicum (Himalayas, Indochina)
- Ligustrum japonicum (Japan, Korea)
- Ligustrum leucanthum (China)
- Ligustrum lianum (China)
- Ligustrum liukiuense (Taiwan)
- Ligustrum longitubum (China)
- Ligustrum lucidum – Chinese Privet, Glossy Privet (China, Japan, Korea)
- Ligustrum massalongianum (Himalayas)
- Ligustrum microcarpum (Taiwan); often included in L. sinense.
- Ligustrum morrisonense (Taiwan)
- Ligustrum obovatilimbum (China)
- Ligustrum obtusifolium (syn. L. amurense) – Japanese Deciduous Privet (East Asia)
- Ligustrum ovalifolium – Japanese Privet, Oval-leaved Privet (Japan)
- Ligustrum pedunculare (China)
- Ligustrum pricei (Taiwan)
- Ligustrum punctifolium
- Ligustrum quihoui (China)
- Ligustrum retusum (China)
- Ligustrum robustum (China)
- Ligustrum sempervirens (Western China)
- Ligustrum sinense – Chinese Privet (China, Taiwan)
- Ligustrum strongylophyllum (Central China)
- Ligustrum tenuipes. (China)
- Ligustrum tschonoskii (Japan)
- Ligustrum vulgare – Common Privet, European Privet (Europe, northwest Africa, southwest Asia)
- Ligustrum xingrenense (China)
- Ligustrum yunguiense (China)
Problems
Privet is one of several plants which are poisonous to horses. In some parts of the world where they are not native, some privet species have become invasive weeds, spreading into wilderness areas and displacing native species. This is particularly a problem in North America, where no species of the genus occurs naturally.[7] Privet is a huge problem in New Zealand. It is banned from sale or cultivation in New Zealand due to the effects of its pollen on asthma sufferers. Privet pollen is known to cause asthma and eczema in sufferers. Privet can be removed by contacting the local government to report its presence.[8]
36% of respondents to a survey of gardeners in the UK said that privet would put them off buying a property.[9]
References
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag;
parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />- Ligustrum obtusifolium.jpg
Japanese Deciduous Privet Ligustrum obtusifolium
- Illustration Ligustrum vulgare0.jpg
European Privet Ligustrum vulgare
External links
- 12px Media related to Ligustrum at Wikimedia Commons
Template:Wikispecies-inlineca:Ligustrum cs:Ptačí zob da:Liguster de:Liguster es:Ligustrum fr:Troène io:Ligustro it:Ligustrum ka:კვიდო kk:Бирючина ja:イボタノキ属 nn:Liguster pl:Ligustr pt:Ligustrum ru:Бирючина fi:Likusterit tr:Kurtbağrı
uk:Бирючина- ↑ Oxford English Dictionary. privet, n.1 http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/entry/50188940
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Citation/CS1/Suggestions' not found.
- ↑ Plants for a Future, http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ligustrum+japonicum
- ↑ Flora of China: Ligustrum
- ↑ Flora of Taiwan: Ligustrum
- ↑ Flora Europaea: Ligustrum
- ↑ Swearingen, J., K. Reshetiloff, B. Slattery, and S. Zwicker (2002). "Privets". Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas. National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- ↑ "Environment Waikato on Privet".
- ↑ Zoe Williams (22 May 2007). Privet: keep out. The Guardian.
