Elaeagnus angustifolia
Olivier de Bohème
Oleaster/Russian Olive
Additional information
| Plant family | |
|---|---|
| Area | Provence Verte |
| Flower colour | yellow |
| Flower size | 8-10 mm |
| Flowering months | May, June |
| Leaf type | Lanceolate |
| Height | 5-7 m |
Description
The Iranian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations date back to before 633 AD. Traditionally, 7 dishes of fruit are laid out on a table, one of them being the berries of the Oleaster which symbolise love and passion.
Native to western and central Asia, introduced into southern and western Europe as an ornamental. It is drought resistant. The stems can be thorny; buds and leaves are covered in silvery-rusty scales.
Flowers
The flowers are tubular, opening into 4 lobes and fragrant.
Leaves
Lanceolate leaf is lance-shaped: long and widest in the middle. Long, wider in the middle, pointed, undulated, greenish-silvery above, scaly-silvery beneath.
Fruits Seeds
Drupe: 15-25 mm, after drying it becomes reddish/brown.
Edible
The fruit is eaten during the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) celebrations.
Medical
In Iran the powdered dried fruit is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and joint pains, the extracted oil is used to treat catarrh and bronchial affections.
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