Cartrema americanum (L.) G.L. Nesom

Wild Olive; Devilwood

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Devilwood is a native evergreen small tree or shrub in the Olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to the southern third of Alabama. It is most common south of the Black belt, but also occurs in the sandhills just north of that area. Devilwood occurs in sandhills, scrub oak woods, dry Longleaf pine woods, and coastal hammocks. It is usually a multi-trunked shrub from 8-30 feet in height. The bark is smooth and gray in color. The leaves are opposite, evergreen and leathery, elliptic-oblong in outline, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in panicles in the axils of the leaves. Flowers are unisexual with four cream or yellow corolla lobes. The flowers are very fragrant. The fruit is a drupe that become dark purple-black at maturity. Devilwood has long been known by the name Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex A. Gray. It was placed in a group containing species with paniculate inflorescences instead of the fasciculate inflorescences common in other Osmanthus species. Molecular evidence indicated that this is a monophyletic group more closely related to Asian species of Olea than to other Osmanthus species. This group contains two American species and five species found in Southeast Asia. This species gets its common name of “Devilwood” due to the difficulty in splitting its wood. As the tree grows the stem rotates in a corkscrew fashion. Thus, the wood ends up spiraled. Devilwood is very drought tolerant and thrives in sandy nutrient-poor soils. It is occasionally available from native plant nurseries or can be grown from seed. The seed should have the fleshy outer part removed and be planted soon after they are collected. Leave the pots outdoors to overwinter and break dormancy. Seed may take 6-18 months to germinate. If seed cannot be planted immediately they should be subjected to 3 months warm and 3 months cold stratification before planting.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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