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Home / Private Collections / Starz / Science / Plants / UK Wild Flowers / Wild plants - September / Common Sea-Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
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Common Sea-Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

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The sea-buckthorns are deciduous shrubs in the genus Hippophae, family Elaeagnaceae. They are tolerant of salt in the air and soil, but demand full sunlight for good growth and do not tolerate shady conditions near larger trees. They typically occur in dry, sandy areas. Common sea-buckthorn has branches that are dense and stiff, and very thorny. The leaves are a 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 berry-like fruit 6–9 mm in diameter, soft, juicy and rich in oils. Sea-buckthorn berries are edible and nutritious, though very acidic (astringent) and oily, unpleasant to eat raw, unless 'bletted' (frosted to reduce the astringency) and/or mixed as a juice with sweeter substances such as apple or grape juice. Picture taken at Wells-next-to-the-Sea, Norfolk, 11th September 2009.

Added:
2nd Oct 2010 by Diane Earl

Subjects:
Biology, Science

Key Stages:
Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 4+

Keywords:
plant food edible berry leaf sea sand wild

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