Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Automatic taxobox
Elaeagnus (Template:IPAc-en)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a genus of flowering plants in the family Elaeagnaceae.<ref name="cabi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some species of the genus are commonly known as silverberry or oleaster,
DescriptionEdit
Elaeagnus plants are deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees.<ref name=cabi/> 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.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
TaxonomyEdit
The genus Elaeagnus was erected in 1754 by Carl Linnaeus, who attributed the name to Joseph Pitton de Tournefort.<ref name=POWO_30001965-2/><ref name=Linn54>Template:Cite book</ref> There is agreement that the name is based on Theophrastus's use of the Ancient Greek {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Transliteration, latinized to Template:Transliteration) as the name of a shrub.<ref name=Gilb55>Template:Citation</ref> The first part of the name, elae-, is from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 'olive'. Sources differ on the origin of the second part: it may be from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, Vitex agnus-castus, the chaste tree,<ref name=Gilb55/> or from the Greek name for a kind of willow.<ref name=John72>Template:Cite book</ref> In either case, the second part is derived from {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Transliteration), meaning 'pure', 'chaste'.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
SpeciesEdit
Plants of the World Online currently (February 2025) includes:<ref name = POWO>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col
- Elaeagnus angustata Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus angustifolia Template:Au – type species – oleaster, Russian olive, etc. (western Asia)
- Elaeagnus annamensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus arakiana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus argyi Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus bambusetorum Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus bockii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus bonii Template:Au
- Elaeagnus calcarea Template:Au
- Elaeagnus caudata Template:Au
- Elaeagnus cinnamomifolia Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus commutata Template:Au – American silverberry or wolf-willow (North America)
- Elaeagnus conferta Template:Au (southern Asia)
- Elaeagnus courtoisii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus darenensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus davidi Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus delavayi Template:Au
- Elaeagnus difficilis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus elongatus Template:Au
- Elaeagnus epitricha Template:Au
- Elaeagnus fasciculata Template:Au
- Elaeagnus formosana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus formosensis Template:Au (Taiwan)
- Elaeagnus geniculata Template:Au
- Elaeagnus glabra Template:Au (eastern Asia)
- Elaeagnus gonyanthes Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus grandifolia Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus griffithii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus grijsii Template:Au
- Elaeagnus guizhouensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus henryi Template:Au
- Elaeagnus heterophylla Template:Au
- Elaeagnus hunanensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus indica Template:Au
- Elaeagnus infundibularis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus jiangxiensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus jingdonensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus kanaii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus lanceolata Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus lanpingensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus laosensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus latifolia Template:Au (southern Asia)
- Elaeagnus lipoensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus liukiuensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus liuzhouensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus longiloba Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus loureiroi Template:Au (southern China)
- Elaeagnus luoxiangensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus luxiensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus macrantha Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus macrophylla Template:Au (eastern Asia)
- Elaeagnus magna Template:Au
- Elaeagnus × maritima Template:Au
- Elaeagnus matsunoana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus maximowiczii Template:Au
- Elaeagnus micrantha Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus mollis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus montana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus multiflora Template:Au – cherry silverberry or gumi (eastern Asia)
- Elaeagnus murakamiana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus numajiriana Template:Au
- Elaeagnus obovatifolia Template:Au
- Elaeagnus oldhamii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus ovata Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus pallidiflora Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus pilostyla Template:Au
- Elaeagnus pingnanensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus pungens Template:Au – silverthorn (Japan)
- Elaeagnus pyriformis Template:Au (eastern Himalaya)
- Elaeagnus × reflexa Template:Au
- Elaeagnus retrostyla Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus rivularis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus rotundata Template:Au
- Elaeagnus s-stylata Template:Au
- Elaeagnus sarmentosa Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus schlechtendalii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus stellipila Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus × submacrophylla Template:Au
- Elaeagnus takeshitae Template:Au
- Elaeagnus taliensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus tarokoensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus thunbergii Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus tonkinensis Template:Au (southeastern Asia)
- Elaeagnus tricholepis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus triflora Template:Au (southeastern Asia, northeast Australia)
- Elaeagnus tubiflora Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus tutcheri Template:Au (southern China)
- Elaeagnus umbellata Template:Au – Japanese silverberry or autumn olive (eastern Asia)
- Elaeagnus viridis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus wenshanensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus xichouensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus xingwenensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus xizangensis Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus yakusimensis Template:Au
- Elaeagnus yoshinoi Template:Au (China)
- Elaeagnus yunnanensis Template:Au (Yunnan)
Species names with uncertain taxonomic statusEdit
The following species have been placed in other genera or their status has been considered unresolved:<ref name="PlantList">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Div col
- Elaeagnus arakiana Koidz.
- Elaeagnus asakawana Sa.Kurata
- Elaeagnus attenuata Nakai
- Elaeagnus crocea Nakai
- Elaeagnus cyanea Aiton ex Steud.
- Elaeagnus emarginata Colla
- Elaeagnus fasciculata (Wall. ex Steud.) A.Nelson
- Elaeagnus fragrans Nakai
- Elaeagnus fruticosa (Lour.) A.Chev.
- Elaeagnus fusca Pépin ex Lem.
- Elaeagnus higoensis Nakai
- Elaeagnus kiusiana Nakai
- Elaeagnus laetevirens Lindb.
- Elaeagnus latifolia Lour.
- Elaeagnus mayeharai Nakai
- Elaeagnus nagasakiana Nakai
- Elaeagnus numajiriana Makino
- Elaeagnus oleaster L.
- Elaeagnus pauciflora C.Y. Chang (China)
- Elaeagnus philippinensis Perrott. – lingaro berry (Philippines)
- Elaeagnus × pyramidalis Browicz & Bugala (E. commutata × E. multiflora)
- Elaeagnus oxycarpa Schltdl. (China)
- Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A.Nelson
- Elaeagnus rotundifolia (Parry) A.Nelson
- Elaeagnus sativa Dippel
- Elaeagnus undulata auct.
- Elaeagnus utilis A.Nelson
- Elaeagnus veteris-castelli Lepage
HybridsEdit
The following hybrids have been described:<ref name="PlantList"/><ref name="POWO"/>
- Elaeagnus × maritima Koidz.
- Elaeagnus × reflexa E.Morren & Decne. (E. pungens × E. glabra)
- Elaeagnus × submacrophylla Servett. (E. macrophylla × E. pungens)
HabitatEdit
The vast majority of the species are native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia.<ref name=cabi/> 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.<ref name=cabi/><ref>Template:BONAP</ref><ref name="IPL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
EcologyEdit
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 fixationEdit
Many Elaeagnus species harbor nitrogen-fixing organisms in their roots, so are able to grow well in low-nitrogen soils.<ref name=cabi/> 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<ref name=cabi/> and by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.<ref name="IPL" />
CultivationEdit
Elaeagnus species are widely cultivated for their showy, often variegated, foliage, and numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed.<ref name=RHSAZ>Template:Cite book</ref>
The fruit is acidic and somewhat astringent.<ref name=cabi/> It makes good tarts.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Notable species and hybrids in cultivation include:-
- Elaeagnus angustifolia
- Elaeagnus commutata
- Elaeagnus macrophylla
- Elaeagnus multiflora
- Elaeagnus pungens
- Elaeagnus × reflexa
- Elaeagnus × submacrophylla (syn. E. × ebbingei)
- Elaeagnus umbellata
The hybrid Elaeagnus × submacrophylla<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the cultivar 'Gilt Edge'<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
