Things You didn’t know about Ceylon Olive

Introduction

in this article, I’m going to tell you about things you didn’t know about Ceylon Olive

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

• KINGDOM: Plantae
• PHYLUM: Magnoliophyta
• CLASS: Magnoliopsid
•  ORDER: Malvales
• FAMILY: Elaeocarpaceae
• GENUS: Elaceocarpus L.
• SPECIES: serratus
• S: NAME: Elaeocarpus serratus
• VARIETIES: Elaeocarpus amoenus
  • : Elaeocarpus Montanus
  • : Elaeocarpus spheericus

• Sri Lankan Olive is an endemic tree to Sri Lanka as well as India.
• This tree is commonly grown well in Up-Country, Low-Country as well as in the middle zone of the country.
• The Sri Lankan Olive is identified in many names called “Mas Veralu, Pol Veralu, Thiththa Veralu & “Gal Veralu”.
• Except the above varieties, a foreign variety called “Nil Veralu” can be seen in botanical gardens of our country.

About Blue Ceylon Olive

• Scientific name: Elaeocarpus angustifolius
•  Common name: Blue Ceylon Olive/Rudraksha
• Morphological characters :
• It is a rain forest tree in a Elaeocarpaceae family.
• Bearing bitter edible fruit.
• It is a higher plant.
• The outer cover of Blue Ceylon Olive has an attractive blue colour.

USES

• Religious uses
• Seeds use to make rudraksha mala for Hinduism prayers.        
• Wearing Rudraksha seed bracelets because there can be absorbed cosmetic energy.

IMPORTANCE OF CEYLON OLIVE

• Use as a fresh fruit.
• Ceylon Olive fruit is rich in minerals, vitamins(C), fibre & valuable antioxidants.
• Use as a medicinal value plant.
• It help to control diabetic.
• The fruits are used in the treatment of dysentery.
• The bark of the Ceylon Olive tree is used to treat gastric disorders.
• The Ceylon Olive leaf extracts can be utilized to produce effective ointment to treat fungal infections of the skin.
• The leaves finely milled and the headache can be cured.
• The piles are healed by rubbing of the leaves are grinding.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

• Sri Lankan Olive tree grows up to about 10-15m in height.
•  The branches of it widespread about 3-5m.
• It is medium size tree & ash mixed brown colour of the trunk.
• There is a long seed in a Veralu fruit.
• Well riped Veralu fruits are in sour & sweet taste.
• The flowers are in Creamy colour.
• Bloom in plenty of Ceylon Olive tree is November & December.
• Well matured leaves become green to reddish colour & matured fruits become light green colour.
• Creamy colour flowers.

CULTIVATION OF POTS & THE FIELD

• Where space is limited gardens may be planted in plastic or cement containers.
• cultivate in the field, 8m spacing between two seedlings & should be kept 5m spacing among two rows.
• It is important to apply organic fertilizer once every six months for a beach plant.  

HARVESTING & MARKETING

• When the fruits become light green colour, can ba harvest then.
• Ceylon Olive is two times of bearing per year.
• Can be harvest in after planting of seedlings 7-8 years.
• From the budding plants can be harvest in after planting 3-5 years.
• We can get 60-100 kg from a young plant.
• There is a high demand & also a considerable price in the local market

PEST & DISEASES MANAGEMENT

PESTS

1. There are leaf curl caterpillar damage for immature stage c of Ceylon olive.

 Control,

• Remove damaged leaves.
• Can be use recommended pesticides.    

Disease

• Nothing special damages for identified.

VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS

• It use to prepare Ceylon Olive Pickels
• Can prepare Ceylon Olive juice
• Sri Lankan Ayurveda herbal shampoo and conditioners made out of Ceylon Olive
• It helps to maintain healthy hair while repairing damaged hair.

check out my other article:10 things you should know before eating Carambola/Star Fruit