Scientific name: Hippophae rhamnoides
Local Name: Sandthorn, Sea Berry, Sallowthorn
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) belongs to the family Elaeagnaceae. Members of this family have root nodules which house nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which is why Sea buckthorns can thrive in poor soils. Sea Buckthorn is also called, Sandthorn, Sea Berry or Sallowthorn.
The shrubs reach 2–4 metres tall. The common sea buckthorn has dense and stiff branches and are 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 berries 6–9 mm in diameter, soft, juicy, and rich in oils. The roots distribute rapidly and extensively, providing a nonleguminous nitrogen fixation role in surrounding soils. In central Europe and Asia, it also occurs as a sub-alpine shrub above the tree line in mountains and other sunny areas such as river banks where it has been used to stabilize erosion. 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 grow in dry, sandy areas. The plants are extremely cold hardy and naturally found at high altitudes between 2500m and 3700m above sea level.
Nutrient Composition
The berries of this plant have many beneficial properties. They are exceptionally high in vitamin C, but also in vitamins E and B group, carotenoids, biotin and folic acids. The berries also contain a unique combination of calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.
The oil from the berries has healing, anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic properties.
The seeds and leaves are also particularly rich in quercetin, a flavonoid linked to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Interestingly, sea buckthorn oil may also be one of the only plant foods known to provide all four omega fatty acids — omega-3, omega-6, omega-7 and omega-9.
Sea Buckthorn uses:
Sea buckthorn extracts have been used in the treatment of a wide range of medicinal conditions including cancer, heart disease and burns. For the last few decades it has been subject of an enormous amount of research initially in Russia, but also in Sweden, Finland, Germany, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Canada.
Apart from the healthy fruit, the plant has many uses such as landscaping properties where it can be used as a deciduous shrub. It can also be used to form a wind break or a hedge.
Primary Uses:
- Fresh eating
- The berries processed for pulps, juices, preserves, oils and medicinal products.
- It is also used as a flavouring component to beer, wine, liquors and cordials.
- The leaves are used for teas
Secondary Uses:
- Nitrogen-fixing plant (puts nitrogen back into the soil) – inoculated with actinorhizal bacteria (Frankia).
- Windbreak (especially in coastal areas)
- Hedge/living fence
- Soil conservation. It can be used as a pioneer plant on previous industrial sites and can be used to counter soil erosion.
- Fall and winter food source for wildlife
- General insect nectar plant (Spring)
- Soaps, lotions, and other cosmetics
- Dye from the berries and sap
- A number of traditional medicinal uses