Elaeagnus Explained

Elaeagnus [1] is a genus of about 50–70 species of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae.[2] Species of the genus are commonly known as silverberry or oleaster,

Description

Elaeagnus plants are deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees.[2] The alternate leaves and the 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. Several species are cultivated for their fruit, including E. angustifolia, E. umbellata, and E. multiflora (gumi). E. umbellata contains the carotenoid lycopene.[3]

Taxonomy

The genus Elaeagnus was erected in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus, who attributed the name to Joseph Pitton de Tournefort.[4] There is agreement that the name is based on Theophrastus's use of the Ancient Greek Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἐλαίαγνος (latinized to) as the name of a shrub. The first part of the name, elae-, is from Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἐλαία, 'olive'. Sources differ on the origin of the second part: it may be from Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἄγνος, Vitex agnus-castus, the chaste tree, or from the Greek name for a kind of willow.[5] In either case, the second part is derived from Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἁγνός, meaning 'pure', 'chaste'.

Species

Elaeagnus comprises the following species:[6] [7]

  1. Elaeagnus angustata (Rehder) C.Y.Chang (China)
  2. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. – oleaster, Russian silverberry, or Russian olive (western Asia)
  3. Elaeagnus annamensis S.Moore
  4. Elaeagnus argyi H.Lév. (China)
  5. Elaeagnus bambusetorum Hand.-Mazz. (China)
  6. Elaeagnus bockii Diels (China)
  7. Elaeagnus bonii Lecomte
  8. Elaeagnus calcarea Z.R.Xu
  9. Elaeagnus caudata Schltdl. ex Momiy.
  10. Elaeagnus cinnamomifolia W.K.Hu & H.F.Chow (China)
  11. Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb. – American silverberry or wolf-willow (North America)
  12. Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. (southern Asia)
  13. Elaeagnus courtoisii Belval (China)
  14. Elaeagnus davidii Franch. (China)
  15. Elaeagnus delavayi Lecomte (China)
  16. Elaeagnus difficilis Servett. (China)
  17. Elaeagnus epitricha Momiy. ex H.Ohba
  18. Elaeagnus fasciculata Griff.
  19. Elaeagnus formosana Nakai (Taiwan)
  20. Elaeagnus formosensis Hatus.
  21. Elaeagnus geniculata D.Fang
  22. Elaeagnus glabra Thunb. (eastern Asia)
  23. Elaeagnus gonyanthes Benth. (China)
  24. Elaeagnus griffithii Servett. (China)
  25. Elaeagnus grijsii Hance (China)
  26. Elaeagnus guizhouensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  27. Elaeagnus henryi Warb. ex Diels (China)
  28. Elaeagnus heterophylla D.Fang & D.R.Liang
  29. Elaeagnus hunanensis C.J.Qi & Q.Z.Lin
  30. Elaeagnus indica Servett.
  31. Elaeagnus infundibularis Momiy.
  32. Elaeagnus jiangxiensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  33. Elaeagnus jingdonensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  34. Elaeagnus kanaii Momiy. (China)
  35. Elaeagnus lanceolata Warb. (China)
  36. Elaeagnus lanpingensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  37. Elaeagnus laosensis Lecomte
  38. Elaeagnus latifolia L. (southern Asia)
  39. Elaeagnus lipoensis Z.R.Xu
  40. Elaeagnus liuzhouensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  41. Elaeagnus longiloba C.Y.Chang (China)
  42. Elaeagnus loureiroi Champ. (southern China)
  43. Elaeagnus luoxiangensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  44. Elaeagnus luxiensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  45. Elaeagnus macrantha Rehder (China)
  46. Elaeagnus macrophylla Thunb. (eastern Asia)
  47. Elaeagnus magna (Servett.) Rehder (China)
  48. Elaeagnus matsunoana Makino
  49. Elaeagnus maximowiczii Servett.
  50. Elaeagnus micrantha C.Y.Chang (China)
  51. Elaeagnus mollis Diels (China)
  52. Elaeagnus montana Makino
  53. Elaeagnus morrisonensis Hayata (Taiwan)
  54. Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. – cherry silverberry or gumi (eastern Asia)
  55. Elaeagnus murakamiana Makino
  56. Elaeagnus nanchuanensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  57. Elaeagnus obovata H.L.Li (China)
  58. Elaeagnus obovatifolia D.Fang
  59. Elaeagnus obtusa C.Y.Chang (China)
  60. Elaeagnus oldhamii Maxim. (China)
  61. Elaeagnus ovata Servett. (China)
  62. Elaeagnus pallidiflora C.Y.Chang (China)
  63. Elaeagnus parvifolia Wall. ex Royle (central Asia)
  64. Elaeagnus pilostyla C.Y.Chang (China)
  65. Elaeagnus pingnanensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  66. Elaeagnus pungens Thunb. – silverthorn (Japan)
  67. Elaeagnus pyriformis Hook.f. (eastern Himalaya)
  68. Elaeagnus retrostyla C.Y.Chang (China)
  69. Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A.Nelson
  70. Elaeagnus rivularis Merr.
  71. Elaeagnus rotundata Nakai
  72. Elaeagnus sarmentosa Rehder (China)
  73. Elaeagnus schlechtendalii Servett. (China)
  74. Elaeagnus songarica Schltr.
  75. Elaeagnus s-stylata Z.R.Xu
  76. Elaeagnus stellipila Rehder (China)
  77. Elaeagnus takeshitai Makino
  78. Elaeagnus taliensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  79. Elaeagnus tarokoensis S.Y.Lu & Yuen P.Yang
  80. Elaeagnus thunbergii Servett. (China)
  81. Elaeagnus tonkinensis Servett. (southeastern Asia)
  82. Elaeagnus tricholepis Momiy.
  83. Elaeagnus triflora Roxb. (southeastern Asia, northeast Australia)
  84. Elaeagnus tubiflora C.Y.Chang (China)
  85. Elaeagnus tutcheri Dunn (southern China)
  86. Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. – Japanese silverberry or autumn olive (eastern Asia)
  87. Elaeagnus viridis Servett. (China)
  88. Elaeagnus wenshanensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  89. Elaeagnus wilsonii H.L.Li (China)
  90. Elaeagnus wushanensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  91. Elaeagnus xichouensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  92. Elaeagnus xingwenensis C.Y.Chang
  93. Elaeagnus xizangensis C.Y.Chang (China)
  94. Elaeagnus yoshinoi Makino
  95. Elaeagnus yunnanensis Servett.

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved:[6]

Hybrids

The following hybrids have been described:[6] [7]

Habitat

The vast majority of the species are native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia.[2] Elaeagnus triflora extends from Asia south into northeastern Australia, while E. commutata is native to North America, and Elaeagnus philippinensis is native to the Philippines. One of the Asian species, E. angustifolia, may also be native in southeasternmost Europe, though it may instead be an early human introduction there. Also, several Asiatic species of Elaeagnus have become established as introduced species in North America, with some of these species being considered invasive, or even designated as noxious, in portions of the United States.[2] [8]

Ecology

Elaeagnus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora elaeagnisella and the Gothic moths. The thorny shrubs can also provide good nesting sites for birds.

Nitrogen fixation

Many Elaeagnus species harbor nitrogen-fixing organisms in their roots, so are able to grow well in low-nitrogen soils.[2] This ability results in multiple ecological consequences where these Elaeagnus species are present. They can become invasive in many locations where they are established as exotic species. Two species (E. pungens and E. umbellata) are currently rated as category II noxious, invasive species in many world regions[2] and by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.

Cultivation

Elaeagnus species are widely cultivated for their showy, often variegated, foliage, and numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed.[9]

The fruit is acidic and somewhat astringent.[2] It makes good tarts.[10]

Notable species and hybrids in cultivation include:-

The hybrid Elaeagnus × submacrophylla[11] and the cultivar 'Gilt Edge'[12] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sunset Western Garden Book . 1995 . 606–7 . Sunset Publishing Corporation . 978-0-376-03850-0.
  2. Web site: Elaeagnus umbellata (autumn olive). CABI. 8 February 2018. 3 January 2018.
  3. Ingrid M. . Fordham . Beverly A. . Clevidence . Eugene R. . Wiley . Richard H. . Zimmerman . Fruit of autumn olive : A rich source of lycopene . HortScience . 0018-5345 . 2001 . 36 . 6 . 1136–7. 10.21273/HORTSCI.36.6.1136 . free .
  4. Book: Linnaeus . Carl . 1754 . 148. Elaeagnus . Genera Plantarum . 5 . 57 . Holmia (Stockholm) . Laurentius Salvius . https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/651065 . 2021-10-13 .
  5. Book: Johnson . A.T. . Smith . H.A. . 1972 . Plant Names Simplified : Their Pronunciation Derivation & Meaning . Buckenhill, Herefordshire . Landsmans Bookshop . 978-0-900513-04-6 . amp . 38.
  6. Web site: The Plant List entry for Myrica . September 2013 . The Plant List, v.1.1 . . 14 December 2020.
  7. Web site: Myrica L. . Govaerts R . Plants of the World Online . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . 14 December 2020.
  8. Web site: Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Lists . Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council . 6 February 2012 . 19 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419143047/https://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm . dead .
  9. Book: RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1-4053-3296-5. 1136.
  10. Book: Maiden, J. H. . 1889 . The Useful Native Plants of Australia: Including Tasmania . Turner and Henderson, Sydney .
  11. Web site: RHS Plantfinder – Elaeagnus × submacrophylla. 5 June 2020.
  12. Web site: Eleagnus × ebbengei 'Gilt Edge'. Royal Horticultural Society. 5 June 2020.
  13. Web site: AGM Plants – Ornamental . July 2017 . 35 . Royal Horticultural Society . 6 February 2018.

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