 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. ==description== elaeagnus umbellata grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically up to 3.5 m tall, with a dense crown.parmar, c. and m.k. kaushal. 1982. elaeagnus umbellata. p. 23â25. in: wild fruits. kalyani publishers, new delhi, india. at the web site of the center for new crops & plant products, at purdue university it commonly bears sharp thorns in the form of spur branches.munger, gregory t. 2003. elaeagnus umbellata. in: fire effects information system, [online]. u.s. department of agriculture, forest service, rocky mountain research station, fire sciences laboratory (producer). available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2012, november 30]. the leaves are alternate, 4â10&nbsp;cm long and 2â4&nbsp;cm wide, entire, but with wavy margins. the leaves are covered with minute silvery scales when they emerge early in spring, but turn greener above as the scales wear off during the summer. in this the plant differs from the related e. angustifolia, which remains silvery until it sheds its leaves in the fall. the flowers are borne in the leaf axils in clusters of 1-7. they are pale yellowish-white, fragrant, (often heavily fragrant) and have a four-lobed corolla 1&nbsp;cm long. the fruit is a small round drupe 1/4 to 1/3&nbsp;inches (0.65 to 0.85&nbsp;cm) in diameter.dirr, m. 1998. manual of woody landscape plants : their identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation and uses. stipes, champaign, ill. the unripe fruit is silvery-scaled and yellow. it ripens to red, dotted with silver or brown. when ripe, the fruit is juicy and edible, and also makes a good dried fruit. though the fruit are small, the tree bears them abundantly.
Elaeagnaceae Invasive_plant_species