X-ray of Olea europaea (Olive tree)

Fine Art prints of X-ray Photograph of Olea europaea (Olive tree), originally made by Tor G. Nitzelius, a world well-known dendrologist, gardener and prefect at Gothenburg's botanical garden in collaboration with Lennart Nilsson, among others. Printed on a matte 210 gram Hahnemühle photopaper with archival resistant pigmented ink.
 
A tree that has borne fruit for thousands of years – about 100 kilos annually.
 
The evergreen olive tree originally grew in Africa, Asia and Australia. It has leathery leaves and tiny white, fragrant flowers that turn into stone fruits. The flowers are pollinated by the wind, because they do not produce nectar.
 
The oil-rich and nutritious fruits are too bitter to eat fresh and must be cured before they are preserved in their own oil, making them even tastier. They’re especially delicious accompanied by feta cheese. The trees begin to bear fruit five years after they are planted. A 20-year-old tree can produce up to 100 kilos of olives each year.
 
Olive lumber has irregular grain and is used for carpentry and to make lathe-turned decorative objects that are often found in the luggage of tourists after a week in Greece. But in ancient Greece, olive trees were considered sacred and could neither be chopped down nor burned. That is one reason why there are so many incredibly old olive trees.They can be upwards of 1,500 years old.The oldest olive tree in the world, found on Crete, is 3,000 years old.In the Book of Genesis, Noah’s dove returns with an olive leaf in its beak, which has subsequently become a symbol of peace.
 
Tor G. Nitzelius’ notes also include the word Paestum, which is an ancient city and world heritage site at the Gulf of Salerno in Italy, southeast of Salerno. Pasteum is nestled among gardens, with views of the ocean, and was famous for its healthfulness and “twice-blooming roses.” Today, the city primarily consists of spectacular temple ruins from the fifth century.