The Germaine, also Ghjermana (; Ghjermana di Balagna), Ghermana, Germana, and sometimes as Romana, is a
cultivar
A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
of
olive
The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...
s grown primarily in
Corsica
Corsica ( , Upper , Southern ; it, Corsica; ; french: Corse ; lij, Còrsega; sc, Còssiga) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the 18 regions of France. It is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of ...
, but also in parts of northern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. Genetically it is close to the cultivar
Frantoio
Frantoio and Leccino cultivars are the principal raw material for Italian olive oils from Tuscany. Frantoio is fruity, with a stronger aftertaste than Leccino.
About the tree
The Frantoio tree grows well in milder climates, but is not as tol ...
, that is grown in the Italian region of
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze'').
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...
.
The Germaine has a good yield of oil, and the plant is resistant to cold weather.
Synonyms
The name of the olive is spelt in a number of different ways, including Ghjermana (or Ghjermana de Balagne), Ghermana and Germana. In some parts of Corsica and in Perugia, it is also referred to as Romana.
Characteristics
It is a cultivar of middle strength, with a spreading
growth form
Plant life-form schemes constitute a way of classifying plants alternatively to the ordinary species-genus-family scientific classification. In colloquial speech, plants may be classified as trees, shrubs, herbs (forbs and graminoids), etc. The sc ...
and elliptic
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
that are short and of medium width. The olives are of medium weight, their shape is
ovoid and they are symmetrical. The stone has a rounded apex and base, with a smooth surface and the presence of a
mucro
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
. When fully mature, the colour of the fruit is black.
Processing and agronomy
The Germaine is a dual use cultivar, that can be used both for extraction of
oil
An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...
, and as a table olive. Its yield of oil can be very high; more than 30%.
It is considered a cultivar of good and constant production.
[ ] The smell of the oil has been compared to
pumpkin
A pumpkin is a vernacular term for mature winter squash of species and varieties in the genus ''Cucurbita'' that has culinary and cultural significance but no agreed upon botanical or scientific meaning. The term ''pumpkin'' is sometimes use ...
peel, while the taste is described as creamy, yet intense.
The Germaine is valued for its good resistance to cold weather.
References
{{Olives
Olive cultivars