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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/1-4641/12-103560. Accessed 08 Nov. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 106 specimens of this Species.
12895 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Norway House
Date Collected1948-06-20
109869 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Riding Mountain National Park, Lake Audy
Date Collected1979-07-17
117057 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Beaver Creek
Date Collected1967-06-11
12894 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Plumas
Date Collected1959-06-10
12891 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Nelson River
Date Collected1948-07-05
112158 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Porter Lake
Date Collected1985-09-09
12892 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Warmley
Date Collected1951-06-26
12893 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Webb
Date Collected1958-06-11
72751 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Moosomin
Date Collected1975-06-28
43760 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Princeton
Date Collected1964-07-27
12887 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Quesnel Lake
Date Collected1944-07-20
123522 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Pinhorn Provincial Grazing Area
Date Collected1994-07-21
127498 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Beaverhill Lake
Date Collected1964-07
127499 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Beaverhill Lake
Date Collected1965-07
127500 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Bindloss
Date Collected1980-05-28
127501 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Rumsey Ecological Reserve
Date Collected1982-06-10
127085 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kinsella Ranch
Date Collected2010-06-20
131837 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Tolman Badlands Heritage Rangeland Natural Area
Date Collected2012-06-03
136944 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sommerfeldt Ranch
Date Collected1994-05-28/1994-05-29
139348 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Milk River Provincial Natural Area
Date Collected1962
12880 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Grande Prairie
Date Collected1948-08-07