Hippophae | |
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Common sea buckthorn shrub in the Netherlands | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Elaeagnaceae |
Genus: | Hippophae L. |
Type species | |
Hippophae rhamnoides | |
Species | |
See text | |
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Synonyms | |
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Hippophae is the genus of sea buckthorns, deciduous shrubs in the family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea buckthorn may be hyphenated[1] to avoid confusion with the unrelated true buckthorns (Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae). It is also referred to as sandthorn, sallowthorn,[2] or seaberry.[3] It produces orange-yellow berries, which have been used over centuries as food, traditional medicine, and skin treatment in Mongolia, Ladakh, Russia, Ukraine, and northern Europe, which are its origin regions.[4]
They are exceptionally hardy plants, able to withstand winter temperatures as low as −43 °C (−45 °F).[4] Because Hippophae species develop an aggressive and extensive root system, they are planted to inhibit soil erosion and used in land reclamation for their nitrogen fixing properties, wildlife habitat, and soil enrichment.[5] Hippophae berries and leaves are manufactured into various human and animal food and skincare products.[4]