Sea-buckthorn
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 Common Sea-buckthorn shrub in The Netherlands
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Hippophae rhamnoides |
The sea-buckthorns, also known as seaberry, are deciduous shrubs in the genus Hippophae, family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea-buckthorn, hyphenated here to avoid confusion with the buckthorns (Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae), is also often given as "sea buckthorn" or "seabuckthorn"; likewise, seaberry sometimes also as sea berry. There are three species, native over a wide area across Europe and Asia. They reach 0.5-6 m tall, rarely up to 18 m in central Asia, and typically occur in dry, sandy areas. They are tolerant of salt in the air and soil, but demand full sunlight for good growth and cannot tolerate shady conditions near larger trees.
The Common Sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides is by far the most widespread, with a range extending from the Atlantic coasts of Europe right across to northwestern China. In western Europe, it is largely confined to sea coasts where salt spray off the sea prevents other larger plants from out-competing it, but in central Asia it is more widespread in dry semi-desert sites where other plants cannot survive the dry conditions; in central Europe and Asia it also occurs as a subalpine shrub above tree-line in mountains, and other sunny areas such as river banks.
Common Sea-buckthorn branches are dense and stiff, and very thorny. The leaves are a very distinct pale silvery-green, lanceolate, 3-8 cm long and less than 7 mm broad. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The male produces brownish flowers which produce wind-distributed pollen. The female plants produce orange berries 6-9 mm in diameter, soft and juicy, and rich in vitamin C (on average 120mg per 100g and sometimes up to 600mg per 100g [1]); some varieties are also rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, and oils. The berries are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably Fieldfares. The leaves are eaten by the larva of the coastal race of the Ash Pug moth. It is also sometimes used as a food plant by the larvae of other Lepidoptera including Brown-tail, The Dun-bar, Emperor Moth and Mottled Umber and Coleophora elaeagnisella.
Hippophae salicifolia (Willow-leaved Sea-buckthorn) is restricted to the Himalaya, to the south of the Common Sea-buckthorn, growing at high altitudes in dry valleys; it differs from H. rhamnoides in broader (to 10 mm broad), greener (less silvery) leaves, and yellow berries. Hippophae tibetana (Tibetan Sea-buckthorn) occurs in the same area, but at even higher altitudes in the alpine zone; it is a low shrub not growing taller than 1 m with small leaves 1-3 cm long.
Two further species, Hippophae goniocarpa and Hippophae neurocarpa, have been described from China, but are not widely accepted as distinct.
[edit] Uses
Sea-buckthorn berries are edible and nutritious, though very acidic and astringent, unpleasant to eat raw, unless 'bletted' (frosted to reduce the astringency) and/or mixed as a juice with sweeter substances such as apple juice or grape juice. They can also be used to make pies or jam. The consumer industry uses sea-buckthorn berries for jams, juices, lotions, and liquors. Oil from the seeds and berries has numerous medicinal uses. It is used as a healing remedy for many ulcerative and inflammation-related disorders such as canker sores, esophagitis, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and cervicitis [2]. Russian cosmonauts have used them while in orbit.
Harvesting is difficult due to the densely thorny nature of the shrubs. A common harvesting technique is to remove an entire branch, though this is destructive to the shrub and reduces future harvests. A branch removed in this way is next frozen, and then the berries can be easily shaken off. The branches are cut, deep frozen to −32°C. They are slightly defrosted on the surface during the removal of the berries from the branches and afterwards cleaned. The worker then crushes the berries to remove up to 95% of the leaves and other debris. This causes the berries to melt slightly from the surface as the work takes place at ambient temperature (about 20°C). Berries are later stored at -22°C. The most effective way to harvest the berries and not damage the branches is by using a berry-shaker which was developed in Estonia some time ago. Mechanical harvesting leaves up to 50% in the field and the berries can be harvested only once in two years. They only get about 25% of the yield that could be harvested with this relatively new piece of machinery. During the Cold War, Russian and East German horticulturists developed new varieties with greater nutritional value, larger berries, different ripening months and a branch form that is easier to harvest.
Sea-buckthorn is also a popular garden and landscaping shrub, particularly making a good vandal-proof barrier hedge. The branches are used by florists for ornament.
For hundreds of years, the people of central and southeastern Asia have used sea-buckthorn to ward off and treat various ailments.
Recently, sea-buckthorn has been used as an ingredient in several commercially available cosmetic products and nutritional supplements. Two experimental crops are currently being grown in the United States, one in Nevada and one in Arizona.
India's Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) has developed a multi-vitamin herbal beverage for its many troops confronting extremely low temperatures (see Siachen), based on seabuckthorn. The fruit of the plant has a high vitamin C content - 300 milligrams per 100 grams in contrast to 50 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams found in orange - besides containing Vitamin A, E and flavonoids.
The beverage, apart from being nourishing, had a freezing point of -22º centigrade which helps it to remain in liquid form even in sub-zero temperatures. Called 'Chharma' in the native language, has medicinal properties also. It takes care of the high cholesterol level in the body, has wound-healing properties, and is useful in burns. DRDO has set up a factory in Leh with a capacity of 200 tonnes of fruits per annum.
