Fritz Grohmann (1974) Oleaceae. Flora of West Pakistan 59: 1-27
Plants trees or large shrubs, evergreen. Leaves petiolate; petioles 1-2 cm long; blades 4-10(-17) cm long, 3-5(-7) cm wide, oval to oblong-oval or broadly elliptic, with 4-6 pairs of lateral veins, roriaceous, upper surfaces shiny, a bases rounded, tips acute or acuminate. Inflorescences pyramidal panicles uo to 20 cm long and 17 cm wide at the base. Flowers creamish-white, strongly scented, almost sessile; corolla tubes as long as the calyces, usually shorter than the lobes. Fruits obovoid to ovoid when young, at maturity becoming subglobose 6-8 mm in diameter, purplish-blue.
Ligustrum lucidum is native in China and Korea but it is widely cultivated, including in Pakistan, often as a hedge. It is regarded as an invasive weed in Australia.
S.H. Abid Askari (2010) Poisonous plants of Pakistan
MEDICINAL USES
Ligustrum lucidum is reported to be used as an astringent and a laxative and for treating tumours of the vulva. The leaves and fllowers have been used in treating mouth and throat infections, irregular menstruation, and vaginal irritations.
POISONOUS PROPERTIES
All parts of the plant are poisonous, including the berries. The symptoms are gastric irritation with vomiting and purging, followed by death in severe cases. HOrses and heifers have been poisoned by eating the leaves.
OTHER USES
The fruits, although poisonous, are used to tint wines. The bark produces a yellow dye and the fruits green and black dyes. Young branches are sometimes used in basketry.