# autumn olive

*Elaeagnus umbellata*

The berries contain up to seventeen times more of the antioxidant lycopene by weight than fresh tomatoes.

- **Taxonomy:** Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Rosales › Elaeagnaceae › Elaeagnus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** increasing
- **Biome:** forest
- **Habitat:** Disturbed forest margins, open woodlands, old fields, roadsides, and pastures
- **Diet:** Autotroph (photosynthesis)
- **Range:** China, Japan, Korea, North America, Europe
- **Size:** 3–6 m tall and wide
- **Lifespan:** 20–30 years
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Herbicide application and mechanical removal efforts aimed at controlling its invasive spread
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless to humans. Its branches bear sharp thorn-like spurs that can scratch bare skin; wash any cuts with soap and water. The berries are non-toxic and edible, but visitors should avoid transporting fruit or seeds to prevent spreading this invasive plant to uninfested natural areas.

## About

Elaeagnus umbellata is known as Japanese silverberry , umbellata oleaster , autumn olive , autumn elaeagnus , or spreading oleaster . The species is indigenous to eastern Asia and ranges from the Himalayas eastwards to Japan. Because it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in its roots, it often grows vigorously and competitively in infertile soils.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/6012c02a-14fc-4148-ac8e-32e568158ca6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/64697
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaeagnus umbellata
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/575611447/medium.jpg (Shawn, CC0, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.