Oliwka europejska (Olea europaea) – najdłużej żyjący organizm w śródziemnomorskiej Europie

Olea europaea is the most emblematic tree of the Mediterranean region. It has been cultivated for about 6000 years for its fruit, oil, wood, and for medicinal and cultural purposes. The research data concerns the monumental olive trees in the region. The oldest and biggest known trees are in Lebanon, Israel, Greece, Albania and Italy. The oldest of those, ‘Sisters of Noahʼ (Lebanon) are believed to be 5000–6000 years old. The most numerous groups of monumental olives were reported from Apulia in Italy and Albania. The oldest and biggest olive trees could be remnants of ancient plantations from the Hellenic and Roman times, but this hypothesis should be confirmed in a detailed study.