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Species Details
Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesAlternate; egg-shaped to lance-shaped; rippled appearance; width half of length; silver hairs both surfaces; underside may have rusty-brown scales (Moss, 1983). 1-5.5 cm long; 0.5-2.5 cm wide.
FlowersInflorescene a cyme, 2-5 flowered; bilaterally symmetric; sepals 4, fused into funnel-shape, enclosing the pistil, 1.2-1.5 cm long, yellow inside, silvery outside; petals absent; stamens 4; pistils 1, ovary superior
Fruits and Seeds0.6-1 cm long; elliptic shape; silver; dry and crumbly (Moss, 1983). One large nutlet; berry (Johnson et al., 1995).
Scientific Name
Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
Common Name
silverberry, wolf willow
General Description
A shrub that grows 1-4 m tall from rhizomes with twigs covered in rusty-brown scales, silver leaves, and bears silver berries on yellow-silver flowers (Johnson et al., 1995).
Leaves
Alternate; egg-shaped to lance-shaped; rippled appearance; width half of length; silver hairs both surfaces; underside may have rusty-brown scales (Moss, 1983). 1-5.5 cm long; 0.5-2.5 cm wide.
Flowers
Inflorescene a cyme, 2-5 flowered; bilaterally symmetric; sepals 4, fused into funnel-shape, enclosing the pistil, 1.2-1.5 cm long, yellow inside, silvery outside; petals absent; stamens 4; pistils 1, ovary superior
Inflorescene a cyme, 2-5 flowered; bilaterally symmetric; sepals 4, fused into funnel-shape, enclosing the pistil, 1.2-1.5 cm long, yellow inside, silvery outside; petals absent; stamens 4; pistils 1, ovary superior
Fruits and Seeds
0.6-1 cm long; elliptic shape; silver; dry and crumbly (Moss, 1983). One large nutlet; berry (Johnson et al., 1995).
Phenology
Flowers from June to July (Johnson et al., 1995).
Notes
2n=28 (Moss, 1983). The strong scent of the flower can be detected from a few meters away; this scent can also be detected when the wood is burned; immature green wood, if burned, smells like human excrement (Johnson et…
2n=28 (Moss, 1983). The strong scent of the flower can be detected from a few meters away; this scent can also be detected when the wood is burned; immature green wood, if burned, smells like human excrement (Johnson et al., 1995). While some groups considered it a famine food, the Cree and Blood mixed with blood, lard, or moose fat and ate (Johnson et al., 1995). The Cree also used the bark to make cord and the seeds as decorative beads (Johnson et al., 1995).
Similar species:
Elaeagnus angustifolia
E. angustifolia is an introduced and escaped ornamental tree. It can be distinguished from E. commutata by thorny branches, yellow flowers about 1 cm long, and yellow berries.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: predominantly southern half of the province (Canadensys). CAN (BC, MB, SK, NT, NU, ON, QC, YT); USA (WA, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, ND, SD, TX, MN, KY, MD, NY, RI) (USDA).
Citation
Page Citation for Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-4641/12-103555. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 106 specimens of this Species.
21974 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Marwayne
Date Collected1967-06-19
75699 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Woolford Provincial Park
Date Collected1975-08-12
28582 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve, Two O'Clock Creek
Date Collected1968-06-12
28551 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Big Horn River
Date Collected1968-06-11
28649 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cline River
Date Collected1968-07-03; 1968-08-29
75698 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Police Outpost Provincial Park, Outpost Lake
Date Collected1974-06-27
61911 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Banff National Park, Spray Pass
Date Collected1941-08-06
44661 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jenner
Date Collected1973-06-10
61912 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Elbow River
Date Collected1945-08-12
61266 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan
Date Collected1939-06-07
71879 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waiparous Creek
Date Collected1974-06-25
61258 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan
Date Collected1956-09-04
32129 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Sofa Mountain
Date Collected1966-07-06
25967 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1960-06-30
38901 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Crimson Lake Provincial Park, Crimson Lake
Date Collected1968-06-10
45504 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Vine Creek
Date Collected1970-06-22
46564 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Nicholls Creek
Date Collected1945-07-01
40450 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Snake Indian River
Date Collected1971-08-07
30582 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wood Buffalo National Park, Peace Point
Date Collected1970-09-02
80357 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park
Date Collected1975-06-11
80956 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wainwright
Date Collected1973-06-08