Elaeagnus angustifolia |
Elaeagnus multiflora |
|
---|---|---|
oleaster, Russian olive |
|
|
Leaves | lanceolate or very narrowly oblong or elliptic, 25–91 × 6–18 mm; (3)4–8 × as long as wide, bases rounded to acute; margins entire; tips bluntly acute; surfaces abaxially silvery white, adaxially dull green; petioles 6–10 mm. |
|
Inflorescences | pedicels 2–4 mm. |
|
Flowers | 1–3 per leaf axil; hypanthia 4–5 × 2.5–3.5 mm, uniformly silvery white outside, yellow inside; calyx lobes 2–4 mm. |
|
Fruits | ellipsoidal, 8–12 × 7–8 mm, yellow, mealy. |
|
Small trees | 5–7 m; scales silver; young twigs silvery white. |
|
2n | =28. |
|
Elaeagnus angustifolia |
Elaeagnus multiflora |
|
Distribution | ||
Discussion | Riverbanks, creeks, dry washes, roadsides, sagebrush areas, grasslands. Flowering May–Jun. 0–1500 m. BR, Col, ECas, Owy. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to British Columbia, east to Nova Scotia and VA, southeast to TX; Asia, Europe. Exotic. Russian olive is often planted in arid areas, where few woody plants will survive. It is tolerant of saline or alkaline soil as well as heat and drought. It has escaped and become naturalized throughout the drier parts of North America. Sterile specimens resemble Shepherdia argentea but are easily distinguished by the alternate leaves. |
|
Source | Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 611 Alan Whittemore |
|
Sibling taxa | ||
Web links |
|