Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Elaeagnus umbellata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Elaeagnaceae
Genus:	Elaeagnus
Species:	E. umbellata
Binomial name
Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.

Elaeagnus umbellata is a species of flowering plant 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 invasive in the central and northeastern United States and parts of Europe.^[5]

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 (1.6–3.9 in) long and 2–4 cm (0.79–1.57 in) 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]

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]

The fruit is a small round drupe 0.65 to 0.85 centimetres (1⁄4 to 3⁄8 in) 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]

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The leaves of a typical autumn olive plant are arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem not directly opposite of each other, but staggered.^{[citation needed]} They are smooth and leathery, with their front side being a dull green color, with the backside silvery white, which makes the pant noticeable in the wind and in direct sunlight. The veins of the leaf have a prominent central vein with branching veins stemming from the center, giving the leaf an oval shape with pointed tips at the ends.

The epidermis is made of a single layer of cells as the protective layer of the leaf.^{[citation needed]} The epidermis functions to reduce water loss via transpiration and provide protection from pathogens and damage. It protects photosynthetic tissues. The trichomes (leaf hairs), hair-like structures made of epidermal cells, are usually located on both upper and lower surfaces of the leaf. They function to reduce water loss by creating a slightly humid layer over the leaf surface. They reflect excess sunlight to protect the leaves.^{[citation needed]} They also deter herbivores to reduce leaf deterioration. In Elaeagnus umbellata, trichomes help the plant survive in dry, sunny, or exposed habitats, making it an extremely resilient plant and contributing to its invasiveness.^{[citation needed]}

The stem is composed of many shoots extending outwards from the perpendicular stem. The stems of a typical autumn olive plant are woody and slender, slivery and brownish gray. The stems have this color due to scales located on the stem that give rise to the speckled appearance.^{[citation needed]} The stems are smoother on younger plants and rougher and bushier on older plants. Especially the young stems bear short thorns that extend from the stem.

The outermost single layer of cells that covers the stem has a waxy cuticle with little porosity that serves to protect against water and mineral loss and pathogen invasion. In the autumn olive plant, it helps the plant withstand dry and variable autumn climates.

The cortex is the region immediately beneath the epidermis and is composed of parenchyma and collenchyma cells, which provide support. The cortex stores nutrients for the plant's growth, such as carbohydrates, for the plant to survive colder seasons.

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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S.^[5]

In Europe, E. umbellata has spread to the UK, 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 U.S.^[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]

• Charlies Golden - yellow fruits variety
• Ruby
• Elsberry
• Brilliant Rose
• Cardinal - american variety ,selected 1963.^[15]
• Jewel
• Delightful
• Sweet and Tart
• Redwing^[16][17]
• Amber – yellow fruits, old Japanese variety^[18]
• Turdus – german variety,on market since 1992.^[19]
• Serinus – german variety ,on market since 1992.^[19]
• Marzahne – german variety
• Sweet Milan - polish variety
• Red Milan - polish variety
• Powsin - polish variety
• K2 - polish variety^[20]

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  Leaves
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  Blossoms
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  Ripe fruit

• Media related to Elaeagnus umbellata (category) at Wikimedia Commons
• Elaeagnus umbellata images; Bioimages from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
• Species Profile - Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural Library.