Ligustrum sinense is a deciduousshrub growing to 2–7 m tall, with densely hairy shoots. The leaves are opposite, 2–7 cm long and 1–3 cm broad, rarely larger, with an entire margin and a 2–8 mm petiole. The flowers are white, with a four-lobed corolla 3.5–5.5 mm long. The fruit is subglobose, 5–8 mm diameter,[2][6] and considered poisonous.[7]
Ligustrum sinense var. coryanum(W.W.Sm.) Hand.-Mazz.
Ligustrum sinense var. dissimileS.J.Hao
Ligustrum sinense var. luodianenseM.C.Chang
Ligustrum sinense var. myrianthum(Diels) Hoefker
Ligustrum sinense var. opienenseY.C.Yang
Ligustrum sinense var. rugosulum(W.W.Sm.) M.C.Chang
Cultivation and uses
Foliage of the variegated cultivar L. sinense 'Variegatum'
It is cultivated as an ornamental plant and for hedges. Several cultivars have been selected, including the very floriferous 'Multiflorum', the variegated cultivar 'Variegatum', and the dwarf cultivar 'Wimbei' growing to 0.5 m and with leaves only 6 mm long.[8]
It was introduced to North America to be used for hedges and landscaping where it has now escaped from cultivation and is listed as an invasive plant in southeastern states.[1][9] It is estimated that Chinese privet now occupies over one million hectares of land across 12 states ranging from Virginia to Florida and west to Texas, with detrimental effects to biodiversity and forest health.[10]
Etymology
Ligustrum means 'binder'. It was named by Pliny and Virgil.[11]
^Little, Elbert L. (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. p. 655. ISBN0-394-50760-6.
^Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN0-333-47494-5.
^Swearingen, Jil; Reshetiloff, K.; Slattery, B; Zwicker, S. (2010). Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, 4th Edition(PDF). National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. p. 71. This reference lists L. vulgare, L. obtusifolium, L. ovalifolium, and L. sinense as invasive.
^Hanula, J.L, Horn, S., Taylor, J.W. (2009). Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) Removal and its Effect on Native Plant Communities of Riparian Forests. Invasive Plant Science and Management 2:292-300. doi:10.1614/IPSM-09-028.1
^Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN9780521685535 (paperback). p 237
