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Oleaceae
Cartrema

Cartrema americanum (Linnaeus) Nesom. Common name: Wild Olive, Devilwood. Phenology: Apr-May; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Maritime forests and (in FL, GA, SC, and extreme s. NC) hammocks and other dry, sandy forests well inland, and reported southwards for wet habitats as well. Distribution: Se. VA south to c. peninsular FL, west to e. LA (Florida parishes); also south through Mexico (18 states).

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: Cartema americanum is a conspicuous element of sandy Coastal Plain forests of the South Atlantoic, east Gulf Coastal Plain, and Florida peninsula, readily recognizable by the flattened twigs characteristic of the family, and the opposite (or typically, actually subopposite), glossy, oblanceolate to obovate, evergreen leaves.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: The very hard, tough, and "unsplittable" wood is the inspiration for the common name "Devilwood".

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl6, Zhang, Zhang, & Endress (2003); = Amarolea americana (L.) Small — S; = Cartrema americana (L.) G.L.Nesom — K4, Mex, Nesom (2012d), Weakley et al (2011), orthographic variant; = Osmanthus americana (L.) Benth. ex Hook. f. — GW2, S13, orthographic variant; = Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. — F, G, Meso4.1, RAB, Va, WH3; = Osmanthus americanus (L.) Benth. & Hook.f. var. americanus — C, Hardin (1974); Olea americana Linnaeus. Basionym: Olea americana L. 1767

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (name change)
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (name change)
  • Great Plains: FAC (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Osmanthus americanus, near Whitewater Creek, Taylor County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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Height: 10-20 ft

plant sale text: Devilwood is a large, evergreen shrub or small to medium sized tree native to maritime and dry, sandy forests of the southeastern Coastal Plain from VA. South to FL. In the spring individuals produce small extremely fragrant greenish-white, 4-petaled flowers, on last season's wood; followed by blue-black, 1/2" olive shaped fruits ripening from Aug. to Oct. Devilwood prefers a location protected from afternoon sun and winter winds. Great for use as a filtered screen, food for wildlife and as an early season nectar

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native range: southeastern U.S. & Mexico



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