Allergen of the month-European olive

摘要

The genus Olea contains about twenty species of trees and shrubs of warm and tropical zones. European olive, 0. europaea, is native to southwestern Asia, and has been widely cultivated around the Mediterranean basin since classical times. It had been introduced for commercial cultivation into California and the southwestern United States, and has become naturalized. The fruit yields up to 50% of an edible oil used for cooking, but also for soap-making, in pharmacy, as a lubricant, and previously for lighting. The wood is hard and well-grained, and used for cabinet-making and turnery.