Taxonomic name: Ligustrum sinense
Synonyms: Ligustrum calleryanum Decne., Ligustrum indicum (Lour.) Merr., Ligustrum microcarpum Kaneh. & Sasaki, Ligustrum sinense Lour. var. multiflorum Bowles, Ligustrum sinense Lour. var. villosum (May) Rehder, Ligustrum sinense var. stauntonii (DC.) Rehder, Ligustrum stauntonii DC., Ligustrum villosum May, Olea consanguinea Hance, Olea walpersiana Hance, Phillyrea indica Lour.
Common names: Chinese ligustrum (English), Chinese privet (English), troène de Chine (French), xiao la (Chinese)
Organism type: tree, shrub Ligustrum sinense is a shrub or small tree native to China, Vietnam and Laos that can grow up to 7 metres tall. Its flowers are small and somewhat unpleasantly fragrant and its fruits are dark blue or bluish-black. Ligustrum sinense has been reported in floodplains, wetlands and bogs, as well as in dry, moist and wet forests, waste places, roadsides and open stream systems. It is widespread and common, especially near towns, where it is deliberately planted. Ligustrum sinense may displace shrubs of alluvial forests and remain persistent in these areas. Ligustrum sinense fruits are consumed by wildlife, particularly birds, which often excrete the seeds unharmed at distant locations where they may germinate and become established. Ligustrum sinense can easily escape cultivation to invade adjacent areas and can form dense monospecific thickets. Description
Batcher (2000) states that Ligustrum spp. are deciduous, semi-evergreen, or evergreen shrubs and small trees in the Oleaceae (olive) family. Ligustrum spp. bark is whitish-tan to grey in colour and smooth in texture. Slender twigs are straight, rounded or four-angled below the nodes, and grey-green in colour. Winter buds are ovoid with two outer scales. Terminal buds are present. Leaves are elliptic to ovate in shape, oppositely arranged on slender twigs, and often leathery and thick. Flowers have both male and female parts, and the corollas are white. The calyx is small, obconic or campanulate, and 4-toothed. Each flower has petals that are fused into a tube below with four separate lobes above. Flowers are borne on small panicles terminating the main axis and on short lateral branches. L. sinense is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 7m. Leaves are elliptic to elliptic-oblong, 3-7cm long, acuminate, acute to obtuse, dull green above, and pubescent on the midrib below. Petioles are 6-15mm long. Flowers are small, somewhat unpleasantly fragrant, and distinctly stalked on panicles 10-16cm long. FLEPPC (Undated) states that the fruits are dark blue or bluish-black drupes, ellipsoid to subglobose, and mostly 4-5mm long. Similar Species
Foresteria spp., Ligustrum spp., Viburnum obovatum
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Occurs in:
agricultural areas, coastland, natural forests, ruderal/disturbed, scrub/shrublands, urban areas, water courses, wetlands Habitat description
Batcher (2000) states that in North America, Ligustrum spp. often grow along roadsides, in old fields and in other disturbed habitats, and in a variety of undisturbed natural areas, such as floodplain forests and woodlands. L. sinense has been reported in bogs, an oak-hickory-pine forest, a longleaf pine-turkey oak forest, and mesic hardwood forests in Alabama. In Arkansas, it has been reported in virtually all non-xeric habitats. In Georgia, it has been reported in floodplain/wetland habitats and in North Carolina along woodland edges (Randall and Rice unpublished, in Batcher, 2000). Batcher (2000) states that in New Zealand, it is found in alluvial forest remnants, waste places, shrublands, and open stream systems, particularly in coastal areas. It is widespread and common, especially near towns. In Hawai‘i, it is found in dry, moist, and wet forests, open areas, and roadsides up to at least 1830 metres in elevation (PIER, 2003). General impacts
Batcher (2000) states that Ligustrum spp. can form dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation. They generally expand along fencerows, windbreaks and roadsides (Haragan 1996, in Batcher, 2000). In New Zealand, L. sinense may displace the shrub layer and marginal shrubs of alluvial forests, and remain persistent in these areas. L. sinense invades woodlands in the eastern and southeastern U.S. (Faulkner et al. 1989; Stone 1997, in Batcher, 2000). Forest gaps can also become invaded since birds often disperse Ligustrum seeds. VNPS/VDCR (Undated) states that it can dominate the shrub layer of an invaded habitat, thus altering species composition and natural community structure by choking out native plant species. It shades out all herbaceous plants. Uses
PIER (2003) states that this species is commonly bought as an ornamental and used for hedges. It has been identified as an important forage plant for deer in the southeastern U.S. (Stromayer et al. 1998, in Batcher, 2000). Notes
Ligustrum spp. leaves are high in phenolic compounds that defend against herbivores, especially insects. The compounds work by inhibiting digestive enzymes and proteins (Konno et al. 1998, in Batcher, 2000). Geographical range
Native range: Batcher (2000) states that L. sinense is native to China, Vietnam, and Laos.
Known introduced range: In the United States, L. sinense is found throughout the Southeast and north to New England. PIER (2003) states that it is naturalized in American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand (Baker, Undated), Argentina (Montaldo 1993, in FLEPPC, Undated) and Australia (Burrows and Kohen 1986, in FLEPPC, Undated). Introduction pathways to new locations
Landscape/fauna "improvement": Batcher (2000) states that Ligustrum spp. have been cultivated and developed into several horticultural varieties, which were introduced to North America and New Zealand (Baker, Undated) as a common hedge in landscaping.
Local dispersal methods
Consumption/excretion: Batcher (2000) reports that L. sinense fruits are consumed by wildlife, particularly birds, which often excrete the seeds unharmed at distant locations where they may germinate and become established.
Escape from confinement: It can easily escape cultivation to invade adjacent areas and can form dense monospecific thickets (Batcher, 2000).
For ornamental purposes (local): Baker (Undated) states that L. sinense spreads by humans who deliberately plant it and cause new infestations to occur. Management information
Restoration potential is likely to be lowest where Ligustrum spp. occur in high densities and there is a high likelihood of continued dispersal of seeds into the restoration area. If attacked during the early stages of colonization, the potential for successful management is high.
Manual and mechanical, environmental/cultural, and chemical methods are all useful in varying degrees in controlling Ligustrum spp. For details on preventative measures, chemical, physical, biological control options, please see management information. Reproduction
Batcher (2000) states that Ligustrum spp. are perennial shrubs that grow readily from seed or from root and stump sprouts. They can escape from cultivation when the fruits are consumed by wildlife, particularly birds, which often excrete the seeds unharmed at distant locations where they may germinate and become established. An average square metre of canopy produces about 1,300 fruits (Burrows and Kohen 1986, in FLEPPC, Undated). Lifecycle stages
Germination rates have been variously reported as low as 5 to 27% (Tennessee Exotic Plants Council 1996, in Batcher, 2000) and as high as 77% (Schopmeyer 1974, in Batcher, 2000). The pure variegated form is not known to produce viable seed (H. Gramling, Tampa Bay Wholesale Growers 1998 personal communication, in FLEPPC, Undated).
Compiled by: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
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Last Modified: Friday, 30 December 2005
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