History of olive

The olive, or olive tree (Olea europaea L., Oleaceae tribe of Oleinee), knotty and silver, is an evergreen tree or arbustone, tall, between 5 and 8 meters (sometimes up to 15), with a circumference that can reaching 6. The flowers, white, fragrant flowers form in clusters that make their appearance towards April-May (mignolatura). The fruits, drupes oval, first appear green, then red-violet and finally blacks. Their maturation occurs between October and December and are used, depending on the variety, for pressing the oil, or for consumption at table.
The olive tree is considered the standard of the Mediterranean climate to the point where the northern and western limits of the crop were chosen by fitografi to define the "Mediterranean region". But the origins of this tree are much more remote. Trace fossils olive spontaneous in the Mediterranean area, were dated millions of years ago, ie prior to the appearance of man.