Olive (Olea Europaea)

Status: Secure and widely available.

Other Common Names: 

Widely distributed around the Mediterranean, Caspian Sea, Northern Iran and Iraq and transplanted into California, members of the Oleaceae family (Olea) can grow to 25-50 feet in height and 3-5 feet in diameter. One of the most widely cultivated trees in the world for their fruit and oils.

Light brown with Medium to Dark brown veining. Figuring can be stunning in appearance.

Fine texture, machines well and turns beautifully..  Specific Gravity: .72-.99. Avg. Dry Weight:  62 pounds per cubic foot.

Smells like Olive Oil when cut/turned. Oil content can make it more difficult to apply a finish, but polishes wonderfully.

Used to make: Kitchen Items, Novelty items, High End Furniture.

Pruning is required to maintain the health of fruit producing trees. Many pieces in the woodturning world come from these prunings. There have been some questions of the authenticity of some sources of Holy Land Olive (some suggesting that pieces are imported into Israel to then be shipped to buyers). 

Italian Olive Burl

Holy Land Olive

Olive

Olive Burl

Italian Olive