Elaeocarpus sylvestris, the woodland elaeocarpus, is a tree species in the genus Elaeocarpus.
Distribution
The woodland elaeocarpus is found in China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam (Indochina).
Description
The tree is up to 15 m and is found in evergreen forests at altitudes comprised between 300 and 2000 m. The evergreen shiny leaves are oblanceolate. The greeny-white flowers are grouped in racemes and are followed by black olive-like fruit in autumn.
Uses
The fruits of the woodland elaeocarpus are edible. The oil from the seeds may be processed into soap or lubricants. The bark may be used as a source for dye. The wood does not resist water, so it is not considered good timber, but it is used for growing shiitake mushrooms.[1]
This species contains the gallotannin 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose, a compound that may be used in radioprotection.[7] It also contains elaeocarpusin, a molecule with a unique acid ester group probably derived by a condensation of a hexahydroxydiphenoyl group and dehydroascorbic acid attached to the 2,4-positions of 1-O-galloyl- 3,6-(R)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-D-glucopyranose (corilagin).[8]
This big Elaeocarpus sylvestris tree is located in Hihayo Tenjin Shrine, Ito city, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It's Japan biggest Elaeocarpus sylvestris.
^Line census and gnawing damage of introduced Formosan squirrels (Callosciurus erythraeus taiwanensis) in urban forests of Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. Masato Hori, Masao Yamada and Noriyuki Tsunoda, in Koike, F., Clout, M.N., Kawamichi, M., De Poorter, M. and Iwatsuki, K. (eds), Assessment and Control of Biological Invasion
Risks. Shoukadoh Book Sellers, Kyoto, Japan and IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, 2006, pages 204-209 (articleArchived 2014-03-06 at the Wayback Machine)
^Kawabe, Y; Kusunoki, M; Oono, K (1999). "Elaeocarpus yellows, a new disease of Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. ellipticus caused by phytoplasma in Japan". Jpn J Phytopathol (in Japanese). 65: 654.
^Park, Eunjin; Lee, Nam Ho; Baik, Jong Seok; Jee, Youngheun (2008). "Elaeocarpus sylvestris modulates gamma-ray-induced immunosuppression in mice: Implications in radioprotection". Phytotherapy Research. 22 (8): 1046–1051. doi:10.1002/ptr.2430. PMID18570220. S2CID44278609.
^Tanaka, Takashi; Nonaka, Gen-Ichiro; Nishioka, Itsuo; Miyahara, Kazumoto; Kawasaki, Toshio (1986). "Tannins and related compounds. Part 37. Isolation and structure elucidation of elaeocarpusin, a novel ellagitannin from Elaeocarpus sylvestris var. Ellipticus". Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: 369. doi:10.1039/P19860000369.
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