[123] Elaeagnus pungens, Thorny Olive
Introduction
Elaeagnus pungens, the Thorny Olive, is a dense, branching shrub used as a decorative hedge plant. It is also known as the Spiny Oleaster or Silverthorn. Other species of Elaeagnus are also called Oleasters.
It should not be confused with the well-known Olive, Olea europaea, which is unrelated.
Taxonomy
Kingdom – Plants
Division – Vascular Plants
Class – Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
Order – Rosales
Family – Elaeagnaceae (Oleasters)
Genus – Elaeagnus
Scientific Name – Elaeagnus pungens
There are several cultivars and hybrids and other Elaeagnus species are cultivated as ornamental shrubs.
Name
There are thorns on the stem, although these are not generally visible on a hedge, and it must look a bit like an Olive to come within the Oleasters. Oleaster is the Latin for an Olive tree.
Elaeagnus comes from Ancient Greek elaiagnos or eleagnos, possibly the name of an unrelated plant Myrica. Pungens is cognate with puncture, and means pricking (thorny.)
Description
I have to prefix my comments with the usual disclaimer. There are other cultivated Elaeagnus species but it is generally sold as a named cultivar or hybrid. I am fairly confident that my pictures are Elaeagnus but I am not so confident of the species.
The plainly shaped leaves have lots of tiny scales that can give a silvery effect.
There are two varieties shown above, one plain and one with variegated leaves. Both are evergreen and make excellent hedges with the leaves providing dense cover.
Habitat and use
Elaeagnus pungens is native to parts of Asia including China and Japan. Other species come from the Caspian and Mediterranean Seas and Canada.
Hybrids and cultivars are widely used as ornamental shrubs, especially as hedges.
See also
More hedges to come …
The Species of Britain 