Family: Elaeagnaceae
Genus: Hippophae
Species: rhamnoides
(i) General background on the plant
Sea Buckthorn is the only native European member of the Elaeagnaceae. It is a thorny deciduous, much branched shrub 1-3 m high. The leaves are 1-8 cm, linear-lanceolate and covered with silvery scales on both sides. The fruits are small 6-8 mm and orange and are wind pollinated.
Sea Buckthorn can be found on fixed dunes and occasionally on sea cliffs, local, but sometimes dominant. It is found widely on the east coat of UK, on the coasts of the Atlantic and Baltic from Norway to the English Channel, on the south and east coasts of Spain, river shingles in central Europe in the Rhone valley, Alps, Black Sea coast, temperate Asia to Japan and the north western Himalayas.
(ii) Details of quality characters
The fruits contain flavonoids, fruit acids and vitamin C. They are very acid and have most of the properties of rose hips.
(iii) Current production and yields
(iv) Constraints on production
(v) Markets and market potential
The fruits can be used to make syrup, in the same way that rosehips are. The immature berries treat diarrhoea and dysentery. Mature berries are very high in vitamin C and have principally been used to help improve resistance to infection. Berries are also mildly astringent and can be used to treat skin irritation and eruptions.
The stems, foliage and root yield a yellow dye.
(vi) Other information
The berries are harvested in autumn
(vii) Contacts
(viii) References
Chevalier, A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley.
Clapham A R , Tutin T G and Warburg E F 1962. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press.