Elaeagnus umbellata

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Elaeagnus umbellata
Elaeagnus umbellata1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Elaeagnaceae
Genus: Elaeagnus
Species:
E. umbellata
Binomial name
Elaeagnus umbellata

Elaeagnus umbellata is known as Japanese silverberry, [2] umbellata oleaster, [3] autumn olive, [2] [4] autumn elaeagnus, [4] spreading oleaster, [4] autumnberry, or autumn berry. The species is indigenous to eastern Asia and ranges from the Himalayas eastwards to Japan. It is a hardy, aggressive invasive species able to readily colonize barren land, becoming a troublesome plant in the central and northeastern United States and Europe. [5]

Contents

Description

Elaeagnus umbellata grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall, with a dense crown. [5] [6] It commonly bears sharp thorns in the form of spur branches. [6] Flowers are fragrant, occur in clusters of white to yellow, are 8–9 mm in length and 7 mm in diameter, and have four lobes. [5] [6]

The leaves are alternate, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with wavy margins. The leaves are covered with minute silvery scales when they emerge early in the spring [6] but turn greener above as the scales wear off during the summer. The underside is more intensely covered in the silvery scales, differing from the related E. angustifolia, which remains silvery until it sheds its leaves in the fall. [5]

Flowers

The flowers are borne in the leaf axils in clusters of 1–7. They are pale yellowish-white, fragrant, (often heavily fragrant) and have a four-lobed corolla 1 cm long. [5] They are an important source of nectar for pollinators such as bees. [7]

Fruit

The fruit is a small round drupe 1/4 to 1/3 inches (0.65 to 0.85 cm) in diameter. [8] The unripe fruit is silvery-scaled and yellow. It ripens to red, dotted with silver or brown. The ripe fruits are pulpy, juicy and sweet, 3–9 mm in length, 5 mm in diameter, and average 137 milligrams in weight, with a thin skin covering the whole fruit. [5] [6] Having a sweet and tart flavor, the berries can be eaten fresh or processed for jam, condiments, flavoring, or used as a substitute for tomato. [9] When mature, the red berries contain carotenoids, including considerable amounts of lycopene. [9]

Naturalization

In its origin regions of tropical and temperate Asia, E. umbellata is not considered to be an invasive species, but in many world regions, it has become invasive across wild and cultivated areas, particularly in the eastern United States. [5] In the early 19th century, E. umbellata was purposely introduced to the United States and the United Kingdom for shelter belts, erosion control, wasteland reclamation, wildlife habitat, and for gardens as an ornamental. [5] By the late 20th century, the shrub became a noxious weed and invasive species in many US states from the east coast to the central prairies, and spread widely across Europe. [5]

Due to its substantial seed production and avid germination potential, E. umbellata rapidly invades new areas where it can resprout readily after burning or cutting. [5] Because E. umbellata stands are habitats for wildlife, such as providing forage and shelter for deer, nesting sites for birds, and berries as food for several species, [10] it has been planted for wildlife management in parts of the United States. [5]

In Europe, E. umbellata has spread to the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Italy, but has been cultivated in the Netherlands and Scotland. [5] In some parts of North America where it has become naturalized, E. umbellata is considered a noxious weed, particularly in the central and northeastern United States. [5] [2] In Canada, it is a "prohibited noxious weed" under the Alberta Weed Control Act 2010. [11]

Because it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in its roots, E. umbellata may grow vigorously and sometimes competitively in infertile soils. [5] [12] It can increase available nitrogen in soils and benefit some nearby plants, and when grown in orchards, it can increase yields of adjacent fruit trees up to 10%. [13] However, its ability to change soil chemistry can severely alter or destroy native plant communities. [14]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elaeagnaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

The Elaeagnaceae are a plant family, the oleaster family, of the order Rosales comprising small trees and shrubs, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical Asia and Australia. The family has about 60 species in three genera.

<i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus angustifolia, commonly called Russian olive, silver berry, oleaster, or wild olive, is a species of Elaeagnus, native to western and central Asia, Iran, from southern Russia and Kazakhstan to Turkey, parts of Pakistan and parts of India. It is widely established in North America as an introduced species.

<i>Hippophae</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae

Hippophae is the genus of sea buckthorns, deciduous shrubs in the family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea buckthorn may be hyphenated to avoid confusion with the unrelated true buckthorns. It is also referred to as sandthorn, sallowthorn, or seaberry. It produces orange-yellow berries, which have been used over centuries as food, traditional medicine, and skin treatment in Mongolia, Ladakh, Russia, Ukraine, and northern Europe, which are its origin regions.

<i>Elaeagnus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae

Elaeagnus, silverberry or oleaster, is a genus of about 50–70 species of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae.

<i>Conocarpus erectus</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> Species of plant

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<i>Ardisia crenata</i> Species of plant

Ardisia crenata is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family, Primulaceae, that is native to East Asia. It is known by a variety of names such as Christmas berry, Australian holly, coral ardisia, coral bush, coralberry, coralberry tree, hen's-eyes, and spiceberry. A. crenata is a compact shrub that reaches 1 metre (3.3 ft), often with a single stem. Leaves are dark green, thick, glossy, and have tightly waved edges The flowers are small, white or reddish, fragrant, and form clusters. The fruit is a glossy, bright red drupe. The seeds are able to germinate under a dense canopy and are dispersed by birds and humans.

<i>Salpichroa origanifolia</i> Species of plant

Salpichroa origanifolia is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family known by the common names lily of the valley vine, pampas lily-of-the-valley or cock's-eggs.

<i>Elaeagnus multiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus multiflora, the cherry elaeagnus, cherry silverberry, goumi, gumi, or natsugumi, is a species of Elaeagnus native to China, Korea, and Japan.

<i>Elaeagnus commutata</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus commutata, the silverberry or wolf-willow, is a species of Elaeagnus native to western and boreal North America, from southern Alaska through British Columbia east to Quebec, south to Utah, and across the upper Midwestern United States to South Dakota and western Minnesota. It typically grows on dry to moist sandy and gravel soils in steppes, meadows or woodland edges.

<i>Daphne laureola</i> Species of plant

Daphne laureola, commonly called spurge-laurel, is a shrub in the flowering plant family Thymelaeaceae. Despite the name, this woodland plant is neither a spurge nor a laurel. Its native range covers much of Europe and extends to Algeria, Morocco and the Azores.

<i>Shepherdia argentea</i> Species of Shepherdia

Shepherdia argentea, commonly called silver buffaloberry, bull berry, or thorny buffaloberry, is a species of Shepherdia in the Oleaster family.

<i>Tamarix chinensis</i> Species of tree

Tamarix chinensis is a species of tamarisk known by the common names five-stamen tamarisk and Chinese tamarisk or saltcedar. It is native to China and Korea, and it is known in many other parts of the world as an introduced species and sometimes an invasive noxious weed. It easily inhabits moist habitat with saline soils. It may grow as a tree with a single trunk or as a shrub with several spreading erect branches reaching 6 metres or more in maximum height. It has been known to reach 12 metres. It has reddish, brown, or black bark. The small, multibranched twigs are covered in small lance-shaped, scale-like leaves which are no more than about 3 mm long. The inflorescence is a dense raceme of flowers a few cm long. Each fragrant flower has five petals which are usually pink but range from white to red.

<i>Solanum tampicense</i> Species of flowering plant

Solanum tampicense, also known as wetland nightshade, aquatic soda apple, and scrambling nightshade, is a perennial in the Solanaceae or Nightshade Family. It can exist as a vine, tree, or shrub and is native to the West Indies and Central America. It is classified as a noxious weed by the United States Department of Agriculture and by several states and is known as an invasive species in the state of Florida.

<i>Elaeagnus pungens</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus pungens is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeagnaceae, known by the common names thorny olive, spiny oleaster and silverthorn; also by the family name "oleaster". It is native to Asia, including China and Japan. It is present in the southeastern United States as an introduced species, a common landscaping and ornamental plant, and sometimes an invasive species.

<i>Salix eleagnos</i> Species of flowering plant

Salix eleagnos the bitter willow, olive willow, hoary willow, rosemary willow, or elaeagnus willow, is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae, native to central and southern Europe and south west Asia. Growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall by 5 m (16 ft) broad, it is an erect bushy deciduous shrub with narrow grey-green leaves up to 20 cm (8 in) long, which turn yellow in autumn (fall). The green catkins, 3–6 cm (1–2 in) long, appear with the leaves in spring, male catkins having yellow anthers.

<i>Elaeagnus macrophylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus macrophylla, the broad-leaved oleaster, is a species of flowering plant native to eastern Asia.

<i>Elaeagnus latifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Elaeagnus latifolia, known as the bastard oleaster, or soh-sang, is a species of Elaeagnus native to India and Southeast Asia.

References

  1. ↑ Plummer, J. (2021). "Elaeagnus umbellata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T169273702A169300299. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T169273702A169300299.en . Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Species Profile – Autumn Olive, National Invasive Species Information Center, National Agricultural Library. Lists general information and resources for Elaeagnus umbellata.
  3. ↑ Black B, Fordham I (2007). "Autumn olive: weed or new cash crop?" (PDF). New York Berry News. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Elaeagnus umbellata". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive)". CABI. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Parmar, C. and M.K. Kaushal. 1982. Elaeagnus umbellata. p. 23–25. In: Wild Fruits. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, India. NewCROP, New Crop Resource Online Program, Purdue University
  7. ↑ "Not Pretty Flowers, but Bees Love 'Em — Autumn olive". Michigan state university.
  8. ↑ Dirr, M. 1998. Manual of woody landscape plants : their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses. Stipes, Champaign, Ill.
  9. 1 2 Ingrid M. Fordham; Richard H. Zimmerman; Beverly M. Clevidence; Brent L. Black; Eugene R. Wiley (1998). "Autumn Olive: A Potential Alternative Crop". US Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Autumn Olive". Illinois wildflowers.
  11. ↑ "Prohibited Noxious Weeds" (PDF). Alberta Weed Control Act, Government of Alberta. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  12. ↑ J.R. Clark, G.E. Hemery, and P.S. Savill. Early growth and form of common walnut (Juglans regia L.) in mixture with tree and shrub nurse species in southern England. Forestry (2008) 81 (5): 631-644 first published online September 5, 2008 doi:10.1093/forestry/cpn036
  13. ↑ "Elaeagnus umbellata". PFAF.
  14. ↑ "Invasive Species Focus: Autumn Olive". 18 August 2020.
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