thorny olive

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spiny Oleaster
• silverthorn
• thorny olive

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Elaeagnus pungens var. frederici-variegata
• Elaeagnus pungens f. maculata
• Elaeagnus pungens f. angustifolia
• Elaeagnus pungens f. frederici
• Elaeagnus pungens f. aurea
• Elaeagnus variegata
• Elaeagnus pungens var. aurea
• Elaeagnus frederici-variegata
• Elaeagnus pungens var. frederici
• Elaeagnus pungens var. aureovariegata
• Elaeagnus pungens var. variegata
• Elaeagnus obtusa
• Elaeagnus pungens var. rotundifolia
• Elaeagnus pungens var. latifolia
• Elaeagnus pungens f. rotundifolia
• Elaeagnus pungens var. megaphylla
• Elaeagnus pungens var. angustifolia
• Elaeagnus simonii
• Elaeagnus pungens f. megaphylla
• Elaeagnus sinensis
• Elaeagnus pungens f. variegata
• Elaeagnus pungens var. maculata
• Elaeagnus pungens var. simonii
• Elaeagnus pungens subsp. simonii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Rosales, it is classified under the family Elaeagnaceae and the genus Elaeagnus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found within the borders of Great Britain. Moving toward Southwestern Europe, the species is established in both France and Spain. It also extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically inhabiting the territory of Italy. Finally, the distribution reaches the Western Indian Ocean, where it is located in Mauritius.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Elaeagnus pungens is characterized by its long-lived perennial lifecycle, allowing it to establish permanent presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant exhibits a dual classification of life forms depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. As a phanerophyte, it develops significant woody structures and elevated branches that protect its buds above the ground, while its nanophanerophyte tendencies reflect its ability to maintain growth through relatively small, resilient woody stems.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Elaeagnus pungens is characterized by a woody growth form that functions primarily as a shrub or small tree. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or parasitic tendencies, and it grows as an independent organism. It is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, with no aquatic or epiphytic characteristics. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 4 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elaeagnus pungens is characterized by its metabolic efficiency and adaptation to various environmental stressors, primarily driven by its C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide, a process that is highly effective in temperate to subtropical climates where moisture is relatively available. This metabolic framework supports the plant's ability to maintain vigorous growth and accumulate biomass through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. To complement this carbon fixation process, the plant exhibits specialized physiological adaptations such as high nitrogen-fixing capabilities through symbiotic associations with actinorhizal bacteria, which enhances nutrient uptake in nutrient-poor soils. Furthermore, its physiological resilience is bolstered by the presence of specialized trichomes on its foliage, which assist in regulating transpiration rates and minimizing water loss, thereby optimizing the efficiency of its C3 photosynthesis under varying light intensities and humidity levels.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Elaeagnus pungens is characterized by a specific flowering cycle and the production of distinctive fleshy fruits. The flowering period is quite extensive, beginning in September and concluding in November, although the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that contain seeds with highly consistent dimensions. Each seed maintains a uniform seed volume of 16 mm³, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean, staying constant at this measurement. In terms of weight, the seeds are quite light, possessing a consistent seed mass of 0.016 g, a value that remains unchanged across the minimum, maximum, and mean measurements.

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.016 g

Seed volume max:

16 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Elaeagnus pungens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Elaeagnus pungens has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,7-DIMETHYLKAEMPFEROL, 3-Methylkaempferol, 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 4-methoxylbenzoic acid, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

3,7-DIMETHYLKAEMPFEROL

1. Dr. Duke

3-Methylkaempferol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4-methoxylbenzoic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Caffeic acid methyl ester

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Kumatakenin

1. Dr. Duke

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Elaeagnus pungens has 147 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelopathic, Analgesic, Androgenic.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations