Elaeocarpus sylvestris explained

Elaeocarpus sylvestris, the woodland elaeocarpus, is a tree species in the genus Elaeocarpus.

Distribution

The woodland elaeocarpus is found in China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam (Indochina).

Description

The tree is up to 15 m and is found in evergreen forests at altitudes comprised between 300 and 2000 m. The evergreen shiny leaves are oblanceolate. The greeny-white flowers are grouped in racemes and are followed by black olive-like fruit in autumn.

Uses

The fruits of the woodland elaeocarpus are edible. The oil from the seeds may be processed into soap or lubricants. The bark may be used as a source for dye. The wood does not resist water, so it is not considered good timber, but it is used for growing shiitake mushrooms.[1]

It is also planted along streets and in parks.

Ecology

The larvae of the moth Leucoblepsis excisa feed on the leaves of E. sylvestris. In urban forests of Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, the Formosan squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus taiwanensis) is a pest to the tree because of its gnawing habit.[2]

Woodland elaeocarpus in susceptible to Elaeocarpus yellows, a disease discovered in 1999[3] [4] and a type of Phytoplasma disease, which causes a chlorosis (Japanese: 萎黄病 io-byo)[5] of the plant.[6] Oxytetracycline has been used to fight the pathogen.[4] [6]

Chemistry

This species contains the gallotannin 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, a compound that may be used in radioprotection.[7] It also contains elaeocarpusin, a molecule with a unique acid ester group probably derived by a condensation of a hexahydroxydiphenoyl group and dehydroascorbic acid attached to the 2,4-positions of 1-O-galloyl- 3,6-(R)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-D-glucopyranose (corilagin).[8]

Symbolism

The horutonoki (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus) is the tree symbol of Japanese city Urasoe, Okinawa. Wild Dampalsu trees (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus) in Cheonjiyeon Waterfall are South Korean Natural Monument no. 163.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20140216154726/http://www.taipei-expopark.tw/ct.asp?xItem=39298&ctNode=7517&mp=4 Woodland elaeocarpus at taipei-expopark.tw
  2. Line census and gnawing damage of introduced Formosan squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus taiwanensis) in urban forests of Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. Masato Hori, Masao Yamada and Noriyuki Tsunoda, in Koike, F., Clout, M.N., Kawamichi, M., De Poorter, M. and Iwatsuki, K. (eds), Assessment and Control of Biological Invasion Risks. Shoukadoh Book Sellers, Kyoto, Japan and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, 2006, pages 204-209 (article)
  3. Kawabe . Y . Kusunoki . M . Oono . K . 1999 . Elaeocarpus yellows, a new disease of Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus caused by phytoplasma in Japan . Japanese . Jpn J Phytopathol . 65 . 654.
  4. 10.4005/jjfs.88.46. Determination of Oxytetracycline in Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. Ellipticus Leaf by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Journal of the Japanese Forest Society. 88. 46–49. 2006. Tsuda. J.. free.
  5. http://www.gene.affrc.go.jp/databases-micro_pl_diseases_detail_en.php?id=11054 Elaeocarpus yellows at gene.affrc.go.jp
  6. Analysis of oxytetracycline and detection of phytoplasma after the trunk injection of oxytetracycline formulation in Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus infected with elaeocarpus yellows . Kawabe . Yuji . etal . Journal of Tree Health . 15 . 3 . 97–101 . Japanese.
  7. 10.1002/ptr.2430. 18570220. Elaeocarpus sylvestris modulates gamma-ray-induced immunosuppression in mice: Implications in radioprotection. Phytotherapy Research. 22. 8. 1046–1051. 2008. Park. Eunjin. Lee. Nam Ho. Baik. Jong Seok. Jee. Youngheun. 44278609.
  8. 10.1039/P19860000369. Tannins and related compounds. Part 37. Isolation and structure elucidation of elaeocarpusin, a novel ellagitannin from Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. Ellipticus. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1. 369. 1986. Tanaka. Takashi. Nonaka. Gen-Ichiro. Nishioka. Itsuo. Miyahara. Kazumoto. Kawasaki. Toshio.
  9. Web site: english.visitkorea.or.kr . 2014-02-16 . 2015-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150216025400/http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264588 . dead .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Elaeocarpus sylvestris".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.