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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).
Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.
© 2017 University of Alberta
© 2017 University of Alberta
© 2017 University of Alberta

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/1-4641/12-103577. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Specimen Information

There are 106 specimens of this Species.

67 results plotted on map in 64 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

142012 - Elaeagnus commutata Bernh. ex Rydb.

University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium

Common Namesilverberry, wolf willow Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Mattheis Research Ranch Date Collected2018-06-06