Elaeocarpus sylvestris
Species of tree found in East Asia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elaeocarpus sylvestris is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae.[2][3] It is sometimes referred to by the common name woodland elaeocarpus.
| Elaeocarpus sylvestris | |
|---|---|
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| Elaeocarpus sylvestris, branch with fruits | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Elaeocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Elaeocarpus |
| Species: | E. sylvestris |
| Binomial name | |
| Elaeocarpus sylvestris | |
| Subspecies | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Distribution
Description
The tree is up to 15 m (49 ft) and is found in evergreen forests at altitudes comprised between 300 and 2,000 m (980 and 6,560 ft). The evergreen shiny leaves are oblanceolate. The greeny-white flowers are grouped in racemes and are followed by black olive-like fruit in autumn.
Uses
The fruits of the woodland elaeocarpus are edible. The oil from the seeds may be processed into soap or lubricants. The bark may be used as a source for dye. The wood does not resist water, so it is not considered good timber, but it is used for growing shiitake mushrooms.[4]
It is also planted along streets and in parks.
Ecology
The larvae of the moth Leucoblepsis excisa feed on the leaves of E. sylvestris. In urban forests of Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, the Formosan squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus taiwanensis) is a pest to the tree because of its gnawing habit.[5]
Woodland elaeocarpus in susceptible to Elaeocarpus yellows, a disease discovered in 1999[6][7] and a type of Phytoplasma disease, which causes a chlorosis (Japanese: 萎黄病 iō-byō)[8] of the plant.[9] Oxytetracycline has been used to fight the pathogen.[7][9]
Chemistry
This species contains the gallotannin 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, a compound that may be used in radioprotection.[10] It also contains elaeocarpusin, a molecule with a unique acid ester group probably derived by a condensation of a hexahydroxydiphenoyl group and dehydroascorbic acid attached to the 2,4-positions of 1-O-galloyl- 3,6-(R)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-D-glucopyranose (corilagin).[11]
Symbolism
The horutonoki (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus) is the tree symbol of Japanese city Urasoe, Okinawa. Wild Dampalsu trees (Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus) in Cheonjiyeon Waterfall are South Korean Natural Monument no. 163.[12]
Gallery
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus
var. ellipticus.
var. ellipticus. Hampyung, Korea
This big Elaeocarpus sylvestris tree is located in Hihayo Tenjin Shrine, Ito city, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is Japan's biggest Elaeocarpus sylvestris.
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