EL^AGNACEyE— OLEASTER FAMILY 



SILVER BERRY. ELiEAGNUS 



Ehrdgmis argentea. 



Elccagnus , sacred olive ; the Greek name of an entirely dif- 

 ferent plant. Oleaster is a Latin word, which is interpreted 

 wild olive tree ; derivation doubtful. 



Silvery-scaly, much-branched, six to twelve feet high. Ranges 

 from Minnesota to South Dakota, Utah, and Montana. Stolonif- 

 erous. 



Stems. — Young twigs covered with brown scurf, whicli finally 

 becomes silvery. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, one to four inches long, elliptic to 

 lanceolate, wedge-shaped at base, undulate or entire, acute or 

 obtuse at apex, densely silvery on both sides. Petioles short. 



Flowers. — May, July. Perfect, numerous, borne solitary, or 

 in clusters of two or three, in the axils of the leaves; silvery 

 without, pale yellow within, fragrant. 



Calyx. — Tube bell-shaped ; border four-lobed, silvery without, 

 pale yellow within ; lobes ovate, valvate. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Stamens. — Four, borne at the throat of the calyx-tube ; fila- 

 ments short. 



Pistil. — Ovary one-celled; style linear, long. 



Fruit. — Drupe-like, ovoid, silvery, dry and mealy, edible. 



The Silver Berry is one of the best of the woodv 

 plants with lii^ht colored folias^e. Its rani^e is north- 

 ern, consequently it is rather difficult to cultivate, 



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