''Olea capensis'' subsp. ''macrocarpa'' is a subspecies of tree of the family

Oleaceae Oleaceae, also known as the olive family, is a taxonomic family of flowering shrubs, trees, and a few lianas in the order Lamiales, It presently comprises 28 genera, one of which is recently extinct.Peter S. Green. 2004. "Oleaceae". pages 296-30 ...

. Like the related species ''

Olea welwitschii ''Olea welwitschii'', the Elgon teak, is a species of tree in the family Oleaceae. It ranges across parts of subsaharan Africa, from Cameroon in the west to Ethiopia and Kenya in the east, and south to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. It is a fore ...

'', it grows in sandy desert regions of

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

and

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

. It is an inconspicuous plant that does not attain great height, in contrast to ''O. welwitschii'' which can attain a height of 25 metres.

Uses

Both these species are sources of firewood, but the wood is also valued for its prominent veins, similar to that of the European olive though finer in texture. As hardwoods they are considered suitable for flooring, furniture, carving, turning and veneers.The Secret Life of Trees, Colin Tudge. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 243 The leaves have been used in folk medicine as an antibacterial, a property which has found some support in the laboratory.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q3350262, from2=Q20720395 capensis subsp. microcarpa