''Olax'' is a

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

genus in the family

Olacaceae Olacaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Santalales. They are woody plants, native throughout the tropical regions of the world. , the circumscription of the family varies; some sources maintain a broad family, others split it int ...

. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some of the ''Olax'' species. ''Olax'' is an

Old World The "Old World" () is a term for Afro-Eurasia coined by Europeans after 1493, when they became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia in the Eastern Hemisphere, previously ...

genus represented by several climbers, some species have leaves and fruits smelling of

garlic Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plants in the genus '' Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chives, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion. Garlic is native to central and south Asia, str ...

such as '' Olax subscorpioidea'' and ''

Olax gambecola ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'', seeds of the latter are used as

condiment A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to enhance the Flavoring, flavour, to complement the dish or to impart a specific flavor. Such specific flavors generally add sweetness or pungency, or sharp or piquant ...

s in parts of

West Africa West Africa, also known as Western Africa, is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations geoscheme for Africa#Western Africa, United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Gha ...

. In

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

'' Olax nana'' is well known as one of the first species to emerge after

forest fires A forest fire A wildfire, forest fire, or a bushfire is an unplanned and uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire ( in Au ...

, the shoots growing directly from buried roots.Flowering Plants of the World by consultant editor Vernon H. Heywood, 1978,

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, Walton Street,

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

OX2 6DP,

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Species

The type species is '' O. zeylanica''. According to

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

the genus contains the following 52 species: # '' Olax acuminata'' # ''

Olax angulata ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax angustifolia ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax antsiranensis ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax aphylla ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax aschersoniana'' # '' Olax aurantia'' # '' Olax austrosinensis'' # ''

Olax benthamiana ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax candida'' # '' Olax capuronii'' # '' Olax crassa'' # '' Olax cyanocarpa'' # '' Olax dissitiflora'' # '' Olax egleri'' # '' Olax emirnensis'' # ''

'' # '' Olax gardneriana'' # '' Olax gossweileri'' # '' Olax guianensis'' # '' Olax hypoleuca'' # ''

Olax imbricata ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax inopiflora'' # '' Olax lanceolata'' # ''

Olax latifolia ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax macrophylla'' # '' Olax madagascariensis'' # '' Olax mannii'' # '' Olax mayottensis'' # '' Olax nana'' # '' Olax obcordata'' # ''

Olax obtusifolia ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax papillosa'' # '' Olax pauciflora'' # '' Olax pendula'' # '' Olax pentandra'' # '' Olax phyllanthi'' # '' Olax psittacorum'' # '' Olax redmondii'' # ''

Olax retusa ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax scalariformis ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax scandens'' # ''

Olax singularis ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax spartea ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax staudtii'' # '' Olax stricta'' # '' Olax subscorpioidea'' # '' Olax tepuiensis'' # ''

Olax thouarsii ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # ''

Olax triplinervia ''Olax'' is a plant genus in the family Olacaceae. It includes 52 species native to the tropics of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The name derives from the Latin, ''olax'' (malodorous), and refers to the unpleasant scent of some o ...

'' # '' Olax wildemanii'' # ''

Olax zeylanica ''Olax zeylanica'' is a plant species in the family Olacaceae Olacaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Santalales. They are woody plants, native throughout the tropical regions of the world. , the circumscription of the family ...

Gallery

Olax phyllanthi Mt Adelaide Albany.jpg, ''Olax phyllanthi'' Olax imbricata Roxb. (8503288374).jpg, ''Olax imbricata'', flowers Olax imbricata Roxb. (8729382306).jpg, ''Olax imbricata'', fruit Olax scandens seeds, by Omar Hoftun.jpg, ''Olax scandens'', seeds Olax imbricata Roxb. (12909987654).jpg, ''Olax imbricata'', bark

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2234904 Olacaceae Santalales genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Pantropical flora