Ligustrum lucidum

{{Speciesbox

|image = FloweringLigustrumLucidumTree.jpg

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn | author1 = Lai, Y. | author2 = Liu, H. | author3 = Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) | author4 = IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group | name-list-style = amp | title = Ligustrum lucidum | page = e.T49838597A147627660 | year = 2019 | access-date = 20 February 2022}}

|genus = Ligustrum

|species = lucidum

|authority = W.T.Aiton

}}

Ligustrum lucidum, the broad-leaf privet,[http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/profiles/privet Weed profile: Privet], New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Chinese privet,{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - Ligustrum lucidum |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=3382 |access-date=21 May 2013}} glossy privet,{{PLANTS|id=LILU2|taxon=Ligustrum lucidum|accessdate=24 January 2016}} tree privet{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }} 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.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=354188 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Ligustrum lucidum] The name "Chinese privet" is also used for Ligustrum sinense.

The Latin specific epithet lucidum means "bright" or "shiny", referring to the leaves.{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1845337315 }}

Description

Ligustrum lucidum is an evergreen tree growing to {{convert|10|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} tall and broad. The leaves are opposite, glossy dark green, {{convert|6|-|17|cm}} long and {{convert|3|-|8|cm}} broad. The flowers are similar to other privets, white or near white, borne in panicles, and have a strong fragrance, which some people find unpleasant.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}

Distribution

Native to southern China, it has been naturalized in Spain, Italy, Algeria, Canary Islands, New Zealand, Lesotho, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Australia, Norfolk Island, Chiapas, Central America, Argentina, Uruguay, and the southern United States (California, Arizona, Maryland, and the southeast from Texas to North Carolina)[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Ligustrum%20lucidum.png Biota of North America Program, Ligustrum lucidum]Gavier-Pizarro, Gregorio I.; Kuemmerle, Tobias; Hoyos, Laura E.; Stewart, Susan I.; Huebner, Cynthia D.; Keuler, Nicholas S.; Radeloff, Volker C. 2012. "[http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/42495 Monitoring the invasion of an exotic tree (Ligustrum lucidum) from 1983 to 2006 with Landsat TM/ETM+ satellite data and support vector machines in Cordoba, Argentina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031174642/http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/42495 |date=2020-10-31 }}". Remote Sensing of Environment. 122: 134-145. and also in a small UK village called Lidlington.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

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.

Ligustrum lucidum and the variegated cultivar 'Excelsum Superbum'{{cite web |title=RHS Plant Selector - Ligustrum lucidum 'Excelsum Superbum' |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=1157 |access-date=21 May 2013}} have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web |date=July 2017 |title=AGM Plants - Ornamental |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf |access-date=22 March 2018 |publisher=Royal Horticultural Society |page=60}}

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

It is the origin of Chinese insect wax from the Ericerus pela used for making candles.

=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 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chineseherbshealing.com/chinese-privet/|title=Chinese Privet (Ligustrum Lucidum, Nu Zhen Zi) {{!}} Chinese Herbs Healing|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-18}}{{Cite journal|last1=Hu|first1=Bing|last2=Du|first2=Qin|last3=Deng|first3=Shan|last4=An|first4=Hong-Mei|last5=Pan|first5=Chuan-Fang|last6=Shen|first6=Ke-Ping|last7=Xu|first7=Ling|last8=Wei|first8=Meng-Meng|last9=Wang|first9=Shuang-Shuang|date=September 2014|title=Ligustrum lucidum Ait. fruit extract induces apoptosis and cell senescence in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through upregulation of p21|journal=Oncology Reports|language=en|volume=32|issue=3|pages=1037–1042|doi=10.3892/or.2014.3312|pmid=25017491|issn=1021-335X|doi-access=free}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://shen-nong.com/eng/herbal/nuzhenzi.html|title=Fructus Ligustri Lucidi|website=shen-nong.com|access-date=2019-05-18}}

Etymology

Ligustrum means "binder".Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|9780521866453}} (hardback), {{ISBN|9780521685535}} (paperback). p 237

The Latin specific epithet lucidum means "bright" or "shiny", referring to the leaves.{{cite book|last=Harrison|first=Lorraine|title=RHS Latin for Gardeners|publisher=Mitchell Beazley|year=2012|isbn=978-1845337315|location=United Kingdom}}