Privet

For other uses, see Privet (disambiguation).

Privet
Ligustrum vulgare
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae
Tribe:	Oleeae
Genus:	Ligustrum L.
Species
See text

Wild privet, also sometimes known as Common privet or European privet (Ligustrum vulgare)

A privet is a flowering plant in the genus Ligustrum. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia and Australasia. Some species have become widely naturalized or invasive where introduced. Privet was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub Ligustrum vulgare, and later also for the more reliably evergreen Ligustrum ovalifolium used extensively for privacy hedging, though now the name is applied to all members of the genus. The generic name was applied by Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE) to L. vulgare. It is often suggested that the name privet is related to private, but the OED states that there is no evidence to support this.

Description

Privet (Ligustrum) is a group of shrubs and small trees of southern and eastern Asia, from the Himalayas extending into Australia. They may be evergreen or deciduous, and are tolerant of different soil types. They often have conspicuous heads of white flower. followed by black berries.

Uses and cultivation

In addition to being cultivated to create ornamental hedges and foliage, privet is also widely used in horticulture and flower arrangements. The Oval leaf privet Ligustrum ovalifolium is used for hedges, while its flexible twigs are sometimes used as cords for lashing. The tree species, especially Chinese privet is frequently used as a street tree in Europe, while other species including Ligustrum japonicum and Ligustrum quihoui are among the others also sometimes used as ornamental plants in gardens.

Chinese privet is used in traditional herbal medicine. The decoction of privet leaves or bark helps to treat diarrhea, stomach ulcers, chronic bowel problems, chapped lips, sore mouths and throats, and a wash for skin problems. Privet leaves and bark have bitter properties that make a useful tea for improving appetite and digestion in chemotherapy patients.

Some species produce a fruit, which is mildly toxic to humans. Symptoms from eating privet fruit include nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, low blood pressure, and low body temperature.

Allergenic potential

Privets are highly allergenic and have an OPALS allergy scale rating of 9 out of 10. In places where privets grow abundantly, the odor produced from the flowers may cause respiratory irritation.

Ecology

A plant may produce thousands of fruits, most of which are eaten by birds. Privet is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Common Emerald, Common Marbled Carpet, Copper Underling, the Engrailed, Mottled Beauty, Scalloped Hazel, Small Angle Shades, The V-Pug and Willow Beauty.

Invasiveness

Main article: Privet as an invasive plant

Privet is a successful invasive species because of its ability to outcompete and therefore displace native vegetation, due to its adaptability. Various species are now a problem in North America and Australasia.

Selected species

The Integrated Taxonomic Information System lists eleven "accepted" species of Ligustrum. Additional species are listed in other references.

• Ligustrum amamianum (China)
• Ligustrum amurense – Amur privet (Northern China)
• Ligustrum angustum (China)
• Ligustrum australianum – Australian privet (Wet Tropics, NE. & C. Qld, Australia)
• Ligustrum chenaultii (Yunnan Province, China)
• Ligustrum compactum (Himalayas, southwest China)
• Ligustrum confusum (Himalayas, Khasi Hills)
• Ligustrum delavayanum (Southwest China, Myanmar)
• Ligustrum expansum (China)
• Ligustrum glomeratum (Thailand, Malaysia)
• Ligustrum gracile (China)
• Ligustrum henryi (Central China)
• Ligustrum ibota (Japan)
• Ligustrum indicum (Himalayas, Indochina)
• Ligustrum japonicum (Japan, Korea)
• Ligustrum leucanthum (China)
• Ligustrum lianum (China)
• Ligustrum liukiuense (Taiwan)
• Ligustrum longitubum (China)
• Ligustrum lucidum - Chinese privet, Glossy privet (China, Japan, Korea)
• Ligustrum massalongianum (Himalayas)
• Ligustrum microcarpum (Taiwan); often included in L. sinense.
• Ligustrum morrisonense (Taiwan)
• Ligustrum obovatilimbum (China)
• Ligustrum obtusifolium – Japanese deciduous privet (East Asia)
• Ligustrum ovalifolium – Japanese privet, Oval-leaved privet (Japan)
• Ligustrum pedunculare (China)
• Ligustrum pricei (Taiwan)
• Ligustrum punctifolium
• Ligustrum quihoui (China)
• Ligustrum retusum (China)
• Ligustrum robustum (India to Vietnam)
• Ligustrum sempervirens (Western China)
• Ligustrum sinense – Chinese privet (China, Taiwan)
• Ligustrum strongylophyllum (Central China)
• Ligustrum tenuipes. (China)
• Ligustrum tschonoskii (Japan)
• Ligustrum vulgare – Common privet, European privet (Europe, northwest Africa, southwest Asia)
• Ligustrum xingrenense (China)
• Ligustrum yunguiense (China)

See also

• Invasive species in the United States
• Environmental issues in the United States