Wild Privet (Ligustrum robustum)
Description
“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: leaves, berries Ligustrum robustum grows as a shrub or small tree up to 10 m (30 ft) tall though old specimen of more than hundred years have been observed with a height of 15 m (50 ft). The fruit is an ellipsoid berry, bluish-purple, 7-10 mm (0.28-0.39 in) - 4-5 mm (0.16-0.20 in). It is native to South and Southeast Asia (Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam) but had become naturalised in other countries. It was introduced to Mauritius in the end of the 19th century and to La R-union, where it has become a major invasive species.The Flora of China lists a "Ligustrum robustum subsp. chinense P. S. Green" as native to China, but more recent publications have regarded that name as a synonym of L. expansum. Ligustrum robustum was nominated among 100 of the "World's Worst" invasive species. A moth (Epiplema albida), and two coleoptera (Dermorhytis ornatissima and Dermorhytis lewis) are being tested for biological control programs in La R-union but have not yet been released. Other lepidoptera that feed on this plant are Brahmaea wallichii, Pangrapta grisangula and Dolbina inexacta.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Lamiales
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Family: Oleaceae
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Genus: Ligustrum
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