208 ELAEAGNACEAE 



usually matures in May and drops early, is about Yi inch long, 

 spindle shaped, and light green, and when ripe sits on a pedicel 

 about 14 ii^ch long. The dark brown stone is characterized by 

 a lengthwise white streak. 



Distribution. — The Leatherwood prefers moist, shaded 

 situations along the banks and bluffs of streams. It ranges 

 from New Brunswick to Minnesota and south to Florida 

 and Mississippi. In Illinois, it is widely distributed and ranges 

 from the northeastern to the northwestern corner of the state 

 and southward at least as far as Pope County. Although widely 

 collected, it is a relatively infrequent and localized shrub. 



ELAEAGNACEAE 

 The Oleaster Family 



The oleaster family consists of shrubs or trees recognized 

 with especial ease because of the silvery, scaly or stellate pu- 

 bescence on the leaves and branchlets. The leaves are entire 

 and may be either alternate or opposite. Perfect, polygamous 

 or dioecious flowers are borne in clusters in the axils of leaves. 

 There are 4 sepals, which are deciduous, and the corolla is 

 lacking. The stamens may be either 4 or 8, and the ovary is 

 1-celled and inferior. The fruit is a somewhat fleshy drupe 

 composed of the thickened perianth base. 



The 20 or so widely distributed species that compose this 

 family are grouped in 3 genera, 2 of which occur in eastern 

 North America. These are distinctive in appearance, because of 

 the silvery color given by the covering of scales. Only the fol- 

 lowing is native in Illinois. 



SHEPHERDIA Nuttall 

 Buffaloberries Bullberries 



The buffaloberries. shrubs with silvery or brown, scaly or 

 stellate pubescence, bear opposite, petioled leaves and small, 

 dioecious flowers that arise in clusters at the nodes on branches 

 of the preceding season. The stamens are 8 in number, and 

 the fruit is drupelike. 



There are three species, one limited to Utah, one far northern 

 and western, and the following, native in Illinois and eastern 

 North America. 



