Elaeagnus gonyanthes

Elaeagnus gonyanthes is a shrub in the family Elaeagnaceae, the group that includes the oleasters and silverberries. It grows to roughly 4 metres tall at a medium rate, with a shrubby habit suited to ornamental and mixed plantings. Its native range spans Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Hainan, and both south-central and south-eastern China, where it occurs in warm, seasonally dry to moist climates. In cultivation it performs best in full sun and adapts to light sandy, medium, and heavy clay soils, tolerating both dry and moist ground, though it is not noted as strongly drought resistant. The plant is grown for its edible fruit and seeds, which can be eaten raw or used in various preparations; the seeds are also utilised, though the supplied data does not describe particular methods of preparation. Beyond its edible value, E. gonyanthes is recorded as a nitrogen fixer, a trait shared with other members of its family that can improve soil fertility for neighbouring plants. This makes it a practical choice in mixed or low-input plantings where soil building is welcome, as well as an ornamental shrub in suitable climates. Because the fruit and seeds are the parts used, careful identification matters: gather and prepare only material you can confirm is E. gonyanthes, and treat any wild-collected food with normal caution.