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Author Topic: Elaeagnaceae: A New Beginning  (Read 5448 times)

AcaciaAve

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Elaeagnaceae: A New Beginning
« on: January 02, 2016, 08:41:30 PM »

This thread will be designated for information on the cultivation and harvesting of fruits/medicinal parts of the plants in the Elaeagnaceae family.
The first post will cover the genus Elaeagnus.
My own experience with this plant has been plentiful and fulfilling. Plenty fulfilling  :)
Elaeagnus Angustifolia occupies a decent portion of the Columbia River streaming through Eastern Washington.
The evening glow these trees produce is remarkable and it is surely a treat to meditate along a river covered with Phalaris, Phragmites and Elaeagnus Angustifolia.
Elaeagnus Umbellata is a treasure for healing and its medicinal virtue. Also, many of these trees and shrubs produce delicious fruit. I protect these plants in my heart by cultivating them and expressing my love to them by connecting with them in propagation and medicinal utility.
Truly a gem of ethnobotany and a disgrace to shun these plants as nuisances.
Aww, to make a Russian Olive tea tonight would be amazing...


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AcaciaAve

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Re: Elaeagnaceae: A New Beginning
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2016, 09:09:03 PM »

Elaeagnus Angustifolia

Medicinal use of Oleaster:
The oil from the seeds is used with syrup as an electuary in the treatment of catarrh and bronchial affections. The juice of the flowers has been used in the treatment of malignant fevers. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers.

Edible parts of Oleaster:

Fruit - raw or cooked as a seasoning in soups. Dry, sweet and mealy. The fruit can also be made into jellies or sherbets. The fruit must be fully ripe before it can be enjoyed raw, if even slightly under-ripe it will be quite astringent. The oval fruit is about 10mm long and contains a single large seed. Seed - raw or cooked. It can be eaten with the fruit though the seed case is rather fibrous.

Other uses of the herb:
Plants can be grown as a hedge in exposed positions, tolerating maritime exposure. It is fairly fast-growing and very tolerant of pruning, but is rather open in habit and does not form a dense screen. Because the plant fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it makes a hedge that enriches the soil rather than depriving it of nutrients. An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery. A gum from the plant is used in the textile industry in calico printing. Wood - hard, fine-grained. Used for posts, beams, domestic items, it is also much used for carving. The wood is an excellent fuel.

Propagation of Oleaster:
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. It should germinate in late winter or early spring, though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking more than 18 months. A warm stratification for 4 weeks followed by 12 weeks cold stratification can help. The seed usually (eventually) germinates quite well. Prick out the seedlings into individual pot as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant out when they are at least 15cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Difficult. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, 10 - 12cm with a heel, October/November in a frame. The cuttings are rather slow and difficult to root, leave them for 12 months. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months. Root cuttings in the winter.

Elaeagnaceae
From a nutritional point of view the Elaeagnus has 17 times the lycopene than tomatoes. Yes, 17 times more.  The edible seed has fiber and omega 3 fatty acids but is on the bitter side. One can also eat the seed shell but I prefer not to. The plant is a nitrogen fixers which means it can grow in poor soil and provide nitrogen for other plants.

Elaeagnus Pungens
As for the common names, the bush does not really have thorns but rather sharp twigs that grow into branches. The berry-like fruit is red and silver/gold (from a distance it looks like red and silver but up close red and gold.) The botanical name is a mixed menu. Pungens (PUN-jenz) is easy. It means sharp or pointed. Reminds me of the punji sticks used in Vietnam. Elaeagnus is a bit of an amalgamation and Latinized Greek. It means “Sacred Olive.” Elaia = olive tree, agnos = sacred.  Why the genus was named that is anyone’s guess.

Elaeagnaceae
Also edible are the fruits of the E. commutata, which is native to North America. Alaskan natives fried them in Moose fat.  E. multiflora, the climbing E. philippensis, and E. latifolia are also edible, the latter often cooked and or made into a compote. Many Elaeganus in their native range elsewhere in the world have edible fruit. The seed is also edible on E. umbellata.  The genus is closely related to the Sea Buckthorn. (See separate entry.)
The Elaeagnus clan was championed at one time by various official and unofficial plant groups as good for land and animal. Song birds in particular like the fruit. Turkeys, hens and bears do,too. But in recent years opinions have changed and now it is view as a competitor for native species and is on several states’ hit list.

Elaeagnus Angustifolia
Chemical Content
Fruits contain carbohydrates, organic acids, tannins, grease, the nitrous, slimy and pigments. The cortex contains alkaloids elaeagnine (0,1 %) and tetrahydroharmol (0,05 %), tannins and pigments. In leaves there is ascorbic acid; in flowers - an aromatic essential oil (0,3 %).
Traditional Use and Activity
Fruits possess astringent, antiinflammatory, anaesthetising properties with soothing and sputum ejection action. Oleaster roots or fruits decoction is taken for wind-pipes diseases, for a colitis (in a combination with the same fruit jam). Flowers infusion are used in treatment of catarrhal diseases, and also as a cardiac performance enhansing agent. The ground fresh leaves of the plant are applied on purulent wounds for purification and fast healing. Fruits is a nutriment.

Chemicals in bark of Elaeagnus Angustifolia:
2-Methyl-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-B-Carboline
Calligonine
Dihydroharman
N-Methyl-Tetrahydroharmol
Tetrahydroharman
Tetrahydroharmol
Chemicals in Plant:
Elaeagnine
N-Methyl-Tetrahydroharmol
Harman(shoot)


references and links to profound information on these plants:


Identification Manual for Elaeagnus Angustifolia
http://www.anpc.ab.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Elaeagnus_angustifolia&printable=yes

Elaeagnus Angustifolia Perfume
“Saso is a deciduous shrub of the Oleaster family. It has leaves similar to that of the olive tree, and has tiny bell-shaped, yellow flowers… Aromatic compounds of Saso include such ester compounds as ethyl cinnamate, ethyl phenylacetate, and ethyl benzoate…These compounds provide a fruity aroma similar to that of the fragrant olive (Osmanthus fragans). Its high ester content produces a strong and sweet, fruity aroma. It also contains an animal-like scent similar to castoreum, taken from the perineal glands of the beaver. The mixture of these two provides a heavy, lasting fragrance. “
http://perfumeposse.com/2006/01/02/from-sweet-olive-to-saso/

Elaeagnus Angustifolia Perfume
https://fragrantearth.wordpress.com/tag/elaeagnus/

Elaeagnaceae PDF Interesting Information on Organisms and Fungus the Plants Host
http://wiki.bugwood.org/uploads/Elaeagnus.pdf

Invasive Potential of Elaeagnus Angustifolia and E. Umbellata. Identification Key Included
http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/invasiveplants/factsheets/pdf/autumn-and-russian-olive.pdf

Muscle Relaxant Activity of Elaeagnus Fruit Seeds in Mice
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874102003318

Plants for a Future: Elaeagnus Angustifolia
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Elaeagnus+angustifolia

Ethnobotany and Usage of Elaeagnus Angustifolia
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/e/elaeagnus-angustifolia=oleaster.php

Utilizing Invasive Plants As A Source of Food and Medicine
http://www.eattheweeds.com/edible-elaeagnus-2/

Edibility and Harvest tips for fruits of Autumn Olive
http://foragersharvest.com/autumnberry-autumn-olive/

Ethnobotany and Pharmacology of Elaeagnus Angustifolia
http://www.naturalcompounds.org/Featured-Extracts/Elaeagnus-angustifolia.html

Russian Olive mentioned as Ayahuasca-analogue additive
http://the-nexian.me/home/knowledge/86-agrostis-tryptamines-in-the-crucible-of-civilization

Russian Olive Workspace(Turns out the plant they use in this thread could be E. Umbellata)
https://www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=21695

Autumn Olive Workspace
https://www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=23583

PDF on Beta Carbolines in bark of some plants in the Elaeagnaceae in link below
We have studied the qualitative and quantitative composition of β-carboline indole alkaloids that have been isolated for the first time from bark of Hippophaë rhamnoides L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., E. orientalis L., E. umbellata Thunb., E. multiflora Thunb., and E. argentea Pursh. occurring in Russia. Results of a phytochemical study showed that the bark of all these plants contains β-carboline alkaloids and that the first four of them can be promising sources of β-carboline alkaloids for the creation of drugs.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11094-009-0196-0

Russian Olive Medicinal Combination with Visionary Plant
https://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=9062

Post #333
https://www.dmt-nexus.me/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16810&p=17

Data Sheet of Elaeagnus Angustifolia(dEEcor)
http://sharetheseeds.me/forum/index.php?topic=3131.0



Pictures below:
Elaeagnus Angustifolia
Camping under the Russian Olive produces spectacular dreams...
Silhouette of A Power Plant Teacher..
Columbia River. George,WA August 2015
« Last Edit: January 02, 2016, 09:23:59 PM by AcaciaAve »
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AcaciaAve

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Re: Elaeagnaceae: A New Beginning
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2016, 09:18:25 PM »

Elaeagnus Angustifolia
The Russian Olive
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