Euonymus europaeus - European spindle

Description and Uses

Euonymus europaeus (European spindle) is a temperate shrub from North West Europe . It is mainly grown for its ornamental crops , which have a medium shelf life. The crop is harvested by ground gathering. It starts flowering after 4 - 5 years. The yield will be n/a, but in its top season there will be a yield of n/a. Other crop types include; medicinal, ornamental, timber, . The fruit is used as inedible . The fruit is used as " anti skin irritation, " with C6H14O6 (? - ?) as its significant phytochemical. There is Spindle seed oil extracted by solvent extraction from the shrub's seed/nut yielding 9% - 14% oil. The shrub's wood is called Spindle wood and has a density of 560 - 600 kg/m³. Regarding firewood production the shrub's growing speed is moderate, it's energetic value is 3900 ckal/kg and the wood's drying speed is medium. After 50 years the shrub can be totally removed as it reached its commercial and ecological goal. Euonymus europaeus has a lifespan of 140 years.

Environmental limitations

The shrub is 5 meters tall with a crown of 4 meters wide. The shrub prefers a planting distance of 300 cm and a row distance of 300 cm. It is moderate fast growing and partial shade tolerant. Euonymus europaeus has a shallow root-system and it has symbiotic associations with the Glomus intraradices fungi (endo-mycorrhiza). It is not able to fix nitrogen with "any bacteria. The name(s) or string of bacteria include(s) "not applicable ". The shrub's flower-morphology is polygamous and is pollinated by bees. Euonymus europaeus is deciduous in winter and not allelopathic and has no thorns.

Euonymus europaeus thrives in an altitude of 0 to 1300 meters above sea-level (temperate). The minimum temperature is -30°C; optimally between 10 - 25°C. The optimal rainfall is 1400 mm/year. Without irrigation the annual rainfall should be between 600 - 1600mm (L/m²). The optimal soil-pH is between 5.0 - 6.0 in a soil texture of loam. To salt it is intolerant to wind a bit tolerant and to fire intolerant.

Pests and Diseases

Euonymus europaeus is susceptible to the following pests: Aphis fabea , Myzus persicae . And it's susceptible to the following diseases: Cucumber mosaic virus , , .

Seed Propagation

Seeds are stratificant and can be stored for 15 months. There are approximative 3000 seeds/kg. The seeds can be propagated as followed:

• (1) Store harvested seeds moisty at a chilling temperature of 3-7 degrees C for 2-4 months
• (2) Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing.
• (3) Remove the seeds from cold to a permanent warm temperature.