''Ligustrum lucidum'', the broad-leaf privet,Weed profile: Privet
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Chinese privet glossy privet, tree privet or wax-leaf privet, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae, native to the southern half of China and naturalized in many places. The name "Chinese privet" is also used for ''

Ligustrum sinense ''Ligustrum sinense'' (Chinese privet; syn. ''L. villosum''; in Mandarin: 杻; pinyin: chǒu) is a species of privet native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam,Flora of China''Ligustrum sinense''/ref> and naturalized in Réunion, the Andaman Islands, ...

''. The Latin

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''lucidum'' means "bright" or "shiny", referring to the leaves.

Description

''Ligustrum lucidum'' is an evergreen tree growing to tall and broad''.'' The leaves are opposite, glossy dark green, long and broad. The flowers are similar to other privets, white or near white, borne in

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s, and have a strong fragrance, which some people find unpleasant. ''Ligustrum lucidum'' and the variegated cultivar 'Excelsum Superbum' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

Distribution

Native to southern China, it has been naturalized in Spain, Italy, Algeria,

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

, New Zealand,

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

, South Africa,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

, Korea,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Norfolk Island Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...

Chiapas Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...

, Central America, Argentina, Uruguay, and the southern United States ( California, Arizona, Maryland, and the southeast from Texas to North Carolina).

Uses

''Ligustrum lucidum'' is often used as an ornamental tree, sometimes in variegated forms. It is also one of several species of privet used as dense, evergreen hedges, which can be trained to a specific size and shape by regular pruning. It has become an invasive species in some areas where it has been introduced, such as urban areas in the southeastern United States. It is classed as a noxious weed in New South Wales,

, and is similarly listed in New Zealand's National Pest Plant Accord.

Ethnomedical uses

The seeds are known as ''nu zhen zi'' (female chastity seed/berry) in traditional Chinese medicine and are believed to nourish liver and kidney

yin Yin may refer to: *the dark force in the yin and yang from traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine *Yīn (surname) (), a Chinese surname *Yǐn (surname) (), a Chinese surname *Shang dynasty, also known as the Yin dynasty **Yinxu or Yin, the S ...

and jing in the treatment of tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo (dizziness), premature graying of the hair, and soreness/weakness of the lower back and knees. Due to the belief in the berries' ability to nourish the liver, they are also used in the treatment of disorders of the eye involving red or dry eyes, blurred vision, and pain.

Etymology

''Ligustrum'' means "binder".Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). p 237 The Latin

''lucidum'' means "bright" or "shiny", referring to the leaves.

Gallery

Image:LigustrumLucidumFlowers.jpg, ''Ligustrum lucidum'' flowers Image:Ligustrum lucidum berries.jpg, ''Ligustrum lucidum'' berries Image:Privet - killed as weeds in an Australian rainforest.jpg, ''Ligustrum lucidum'' killed as weeds in an Australian

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

References

External links

Plants for a Future: ''Ligustrum lucidum''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q732933 lucidum Trees of China Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine Plants described in 1810 Naturalized trees of Alabama