Sharp-fruited Oleaster
Elaeagnus oxycarpa
Family: Elaeagnaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 3-16 m tall. The bark is reddish-brown and shiny. The crown is open and silvery. The branches have long spines. The leaves are alternate. They are covered with silvery scales. The leaves are widely sword shaped. The flowers are on long clusters and have a sweet smell. The fruit are fleshy with a stone inside. They are 8-10 mm long and 6-7 mm wide. They are yellow or orange. The fruit are edible.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Kazakhstan it grows in forests along the banks of rivers. It grows in deserts. It grows between 400-700 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Russia
How it is used for food
The fruit are used fresh or dried.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or from root sprouts.
In China plants flower in May to June and fruit in September to October