The plant genus OLEA is a small genus of about 30 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in the family Oleaceae. It is native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the world, with the majority of species found in Africa and Asia. The most well-known species is the olive tree, OLEA europaea, which is cultivated for its edible fruit and oil. Other species in the genus are used for timber, ornamental plants, and medicinal purposes.