Oleaceae, the olive family, is a plant family containing 24 extant genera (and one extinct) of woody plants, including shrubs, trees and vines. It is characterised by opposite leaves that may be simple or pinnately-compound. The calyx and corolla are four-lobed.

Many members of the family are economically important. The olive, Olea europaea, is extremely important for its fruit and the oil extracted from it. The ashes, genus Fraxinus, are valued for their tough wood, and forsythia, lilacs, jasmines, privets, and fringetrees are all valued as landscaping plants.

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EurekAlert! - Biology

Take advantage of reduced pre-registration rates for the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(International Osteoporosis Foundation) Convenient online registration to the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis 2008, at greatly discounted rates, is available only until Oct. 31, 2008.
The beat goes on: Artificial heart technology holds promise for alternatives
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(University of Houston) There soon may be more options for those needing a heart transplant thanks to a new device being developed by the Texas Heart Institute and University of Houston that emulates how the natural heart responds to physiological conditions within the body. Existing devices mimic the pulsating pump action of the natural heart. This proposed total artificial heart replaces the pulsatile feature with two pulseless continuous flow pumps, each about the size of a C battery.
Saving Sumatra: Indonesia reaches historic agreement
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400
(World Wildlife Fund) The Indonesian government and World Wildlife Fund today announced a bold commitment to protect the remaining forests and critical ecosystems of Sumatra, an Indonesian island that holds some of the world's most diverse -- and endangered -- forests. The historic agreement represents the first-ever island-wide commitment to protect Sumatra's stunning biodiversity.The commitment has been endorsed by governors of all provinces across Sumatra, the world's sixth-largest island, and was also endorsed by four ministers.

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