**2.4.** *Olea cerasiformis*

The *Olea europaea* subsp. *cerasiformis* tree is arborescent or shrubby, and evergreen. The trunk is 1 - 2.5 m high, generally pluricaulous, and is grey or whitish in colour. Leaves are oblanceolate to linear in shape, rarely suborbicular; they are 3 - 4 to 8 - 10 cm long and 0.4 – 0.6 to 1.0 - 1.4 cm wide. The leaf apex is acuminate and the colour is greyish-green above and paler beneath. They have a petiole 0.2 - 0.7 cm long. The main vein protrudes on the abassial surface.

Flowers are 4 mm in diameter, white; bracteoles are generally present and well developed. Fruit are borne in panicles. The fruit is an ellipsoid drupe; it is 9 - 12 mm in diameter and 12 - 22 mm long. Drupes are green then purplish - black; pulp with a bitter taste (Medail *et al.*, 2001).
