Elaeagnus
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 Elaeagnus commutata | ||||||||||||
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Elaeagnus (Silverberry or Oleaster) is a genus of about 50–70 species of flowering plants in the Elaeagnaceae. The vast majority of the species are native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, with one species (E. triflora) extending south into northeastern Australia, and another species (E. commutata) restricted to North America. A third species (E. angustifolia) may also be native in southeasternmost Europe, though it may be an early human introduction there.
They are deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees with alternate leaves. The leaves and shoots are usually covered with tiny silvery to brownish scales, giving the plants a whitish to grey-brown colour from a distance. The flowers are small, with a four-lobed calyx and no petals; they are often fragrant. The fruit is a fleshy drupe containing a single seed; it is edible in many species, though generally lacking a good flavour. Several species are cultivated for their fruit, including E. angustifolia, E. umbellata and E. multiflora (gumi). Although they are cultivated more in China than elsewhere, they are growing in popularity in the rest of the world.
E. umbellata is reputed to have a high amount of the carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene[citation needed] and has been shown to display antioxidant properties effective against cancer mechanisms in vitro[1]. E. multiflora is among the nutraceutical plants that Chinese use both for food and medicine[citation needed]. Both berries are small, but tasty and abundant.
Elaeagnus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora elaeagnisella and The Gothic.
Selected species
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- Hybrids
- Elaeagnus × ebbingei (E. macrophylla × E. pungens)
- Elaeagnus × pyramidalis (E. commutata × E. multiflora)
- Elaeagnus × reflexa (E. pugens × E. glabra)
See also
- Oil-tree
Notes
- Wang SY, Bowman L, Ding M. Variations in free radical scavenging capacity and antiproliferative activity among different genotypes of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata). Planta Med. 2007 May;73(5):468-77. [1]
External links
- eFloras Chinese Plant list: Elaeagnus
- Elaeagnus veteris-castelli holotype, sheet from Louis-Marie Herbarium (Laval University).
Gallery
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Elaeagnus". Image Credit.
