Elaeagnus multiflora

Elaeagnus multiflora, the cherry elaeagnus,^[1] cherry silverberry,^[2] goumi, gumi, or natsugumi, is a species of Elaeagnus native to China, Korea, Japan and Ukraine.

Elaeagnus multiflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Elaeagnaceae
Genus:	Elaeagnus
Species:	E. multiflora
Binomial name
Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., 1784

Description

Elaeagnus multiflora is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–8 m (6 ft 7 in – 26 ft 3 in) tall, with a trunk up to 30 cm (12 in) diameter with dark brown bark. The shoots are densely covered in minute red-brown scales. The leaves are ovate to elliptic, 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) broad, green above, and silvery to orange-brown below with dense small scales.

The flowers are solitary or in pairs in the leaf axils, fragrant, with a four-lobed pale yellowish-white corolla 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long; flowering is in mid-spring.

Fruits of Elaeagnus multiflora in mid June

Japanese Elaeagnus multiflora var. hortensis, with cigarette for scale

The fruit is a round to oval drupe 1 cm (0.39 in) long, silvery-scaled orange, ripening red dotted with silver or brown, pendulous on a 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) peduncle. When ripe in mid- to late summer, the fruit is juicy and edible, with a sweet but astringent taste somewhat similar to that of rhubarb. The skin of the fruit is thin and fragile, making it difficult to transport, thus reducing its viability as a food crop.

As with other species in the genus Elaeagnus, E. multiflora plants are actinorhizal, growing in symbiosis with the bacterium Frankia in the soil. These bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available in usable form for the host plant, and indirectly for other nearby plants. This feature allows the plant to grow in poorer soils than it could otherwise.

There are several cultivars, such as Gigantea or Daiougoumi,^[3] Tillamook or Carmine,^[4] Red Gem, Sweet Scarlet,^[5] Hortensis,^[6] ranked here for fruit size which tends to be opposite for taste. Also there have been some hybridization efforts, leading to the JR1 hybrid,^[7] with merits on size and taste.

Uses

This species is occasionally grown in Europe (France,Loraine)and North America as an ornamental plant and for its fruit. It is an established exotic species in parts of the eastern United States.^[8] In China, the leaves of the tree are used as a medicinal plant and a natural remedy for cough, diarrhea, itch, foul sores, and even cancer.^[9]

USDA classify the shrub as a medium nitrogen fixer - it improves the soil.^[10]

History

It was introduced to Europe around 1850 (Netherlands). The French were the first to cultivate this fruit species in Europe around 1877, but cultivation never spread beyond a small part of the French province of Lorraine.^[11] The possibility of cultivation in Russia began to be investigated sometime after 1945, but more intensively only around 2000 (although the first seedlings were introduced to Russia as early as 1926). ^[12]It has only been cultivated in America for the last 10–15 years (the first seedlings were imported to the USA about 100 years ago).^[13] In China Korea and especially Japan, goumi has been a common and highly valued fruit species for centuries.

Cultivated varieties

Sweet Scarlet : A red-berry Ukrainian variety popular in the United States. It is partially self-fertile, requiring another variety for pollination.

Goumi SPP : Austrian variety, self-fertile and therefore capable of producing fruit without any other pollinator.

Carmine : An American red-fruited variety, available in the United States. It is prized for its productivity and fruit quality.

Jahidka : A small variety from Ukraine, ideal for small gardens or potted crops.

Red Gem : A popular Russian variety in the United States, known for its tasty fruit and disease resistance.

Gigantea (Daiougoumi) : Japanese variety.Recognizable by its larger fruits (6 to 10 grams), this variety has excellent potential for hybridization and crop improvement.

Var. Macrocarpa : Another large-fruited variety, each fruit weighing about 3.5 grams, compared to other varieties whose fruits weigh about 1 gram.

Bikkuri Gumi : A Japanese variety (translation "Surprise"). Possibly the same variety as Daiougoumi. The fruits appear to be even larger (10 grams)^[14]