I am investigating the Russian and Autumn olives for a journalism course. They are invasive species of plants that have an advantage compared to native U.S. plants.Their roots are home to a bacteria-like organism that provides nitrogen. This helpful organism, actinomycete, thrives on carbon that is given off by these bushy trees. Since plants need nitrogen to grow, this relationship benefits both parties.
The Autumn olive is native to China and Japan. Its leaves are long blades that share branches with clusters of red berries. The plant was introduced to North America in 1830 where it has primarily spread throughout the east of the U.S.
The Russian olive comes from Europe and western Asia. The leaves have a more silver ash color and the plant produces fragrant yellow flowers before the olives appear. This species was introduced to North America in the late 1800's and has invaded mainly the west of the U.S.
SIUC's Saluki Times covered a story about Andrew
Somor, an alum from Palatine, who won an undergraduate research award for an experiment he continued by studying the Autumn Olive and its nitrogen levels in soil water. The Nature Conservancy provides some more information about both species and leads you to Autumn Olive jam, fruit leather and wine recipes.
