Ovalifolium Views

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Ligustrum ovalifolium, also known as Oval-Leaved Privet, is a semi-evergreen shrub used extensively for hedging, and sometimes for other garden uses. The species comes from Japan. It is sometimes known as Japanese privet, but is not to be confused with Ligustrum japonicum which may also be called by this common name.

FIRE ECOLOGY SPECIES: Vaccinium ovalifolium FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : Plants presumably sprout from the stem base or underground rhizomes [26,31] after aboveground vegetation is destroyed by fire. Limited seedling establishment may occasionally occur from offsite seed dispersed by birds and mammals. However, seedling establishment is of limited importance in most western huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.) [44]. Fire may occur infrequently on some moist sites occupied by ovalleaf huckleberry. Martin [44] notes that the role of fire in establishing populations of western species [of huckleberry] or in maintaining new ones, is not well-documented. POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : Tall shrub, adventitious-bud root crown Geophyte, growing points deep in soil Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)

Has only moderate nutritive value although fertilising may improve this. Digestibility and intake are reduced by high concentration of condensed tannins. CT concentrations ranged from 4-7% of DM based on ovalifolium standards, but analyses using less specific measurement techniques suggest much higher tannin concentrations (19-30%). Animal performance and palatability data suggest that ovalifolium CTs may be highly astringent, binding relatively large amounts of protein/unit of tannin in comparison to CTs from other species (eg. Leucaena leucocephala ). New accessions show higher N (2.8-3.3%) and lower tannin than CIAT 350 (N = 2.75%).

Under grazing, produces 100-700 g/head/day. In the Colombian savannas, mixed pastures have produced LWGs of 264 kg/ha, 32% higher than from grass -only swards. Animal production has been increased by sowing ovalifolium with Brachiaria humidicola to produce LWGs of over 500 kg/ha/yr. Results from milk production trials are variable, with a 10% gain reported in one trial, but slightly lower production in another trial. In both cases the companion grass was Cynodon nlemfuensis . As a companion legume , ovalifolium supported lower milk production than Stylosanthes guianensis , Centrosema macrocarpon and Arachis pintoii.