Home > Facts > Plants Facts > Goumi Facts

Goumi Facts

Goumi Facts
Goumi is deciduous or semi-evergreen plant that belongs to the oleaster family. It originates from Southeast Asia. Goumi can be found on the edges of the forests and in thickets, both in the lowland and on the hillsides. It prefers areas with sandy and loamy soil, that provide enough sun. It tolerates drought and maritime exposure and it can survive on the soil of poor quality. Goumi is cultivated in ornamental purposes in Europe and North America, and as a source of food and medicine in Asia.
Interesting Goumi Facts:
Goumi grows in the form of small tree or multi-branched thorny shrub that can reach 9 feet in height and 6 feet in width.
Young branches of goumi are covered with golden brown hairs. Mature branches can be recognized by scaly, reddish-brown bark (they lack hairs).
Goumi lives in symbiosis (mutually beneficial relationship) with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Root nodules are filled with bacteria which absorb and convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate (form of nitrogen), that is essential for the proper growth and normal functioning of plants. In return, goumi provides food for bacteria.
Goumi has ovate to lance-shaped leaves that are alternately arranged on the branches. Leaves are green on the upper side, and silvery to orange-brown below (due to dense layer of hairs on the bottom side).
Goumi produces small, yellowish-white flowers. They grow solitary or arranged in pairs from the axils of leaves. Flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers).
Goumi blooms from April to May. Flowers emit lilac-like scent which attracts bees, main pollinators of this plant.
Fruit of goumi is drupe. It is round or oval-shaped, red colored and cherry-sized. It has thin skin on the surface, juicy pulp and large seed in the middle. Fruit ripens during the summer.
Goumi starts to produce fruit 3 to 4 years after planting.
Goumi propagates via seed and cuttings.
Goumi is an important source of food for birds, raccoons, skunks and opossums. Animals eliminate undigested seed via feces and facilitate spreading of goumi in the wild.
Goumi is also used in human diet. Fruit has pleasant, mildly acidic taste and it is rich source of vitamins A, E and C. Only fully ripe fruit can be consumed fresh (unripe fruit is astringent). Goumi is often used for the preparation of jellies, jams and pies. Seed is also edible, but it has slightly fibrous texture.
Goumi is used in treatment of cough (leaves), diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders (fruit) and sores and itch (root).
Goumi is often cultivated in ornamental purposes and to provide shade during the summer.
Goumi enriches soil with minerals and facilitates growth of other plants in the orchards.
Goumi is perennial plant that can survive more than 20 years in the wild.


Related Links:
Facts
Plants Facts
Animals Facts