56 Ornamental Shrubs. 



SHEPHERDIA— Buffalo Berry. 



THE shepherdias constitute a small group of the 

 Oleaster family, which was named by Nuttall in 

 honor of John Shepherd, at the time curator of 

 the Liverpool Botanic Garden. All are natives of North 

 America, having a range from New Mexico to the British 

 Possessions on the north, but mostly confined to the west- 

 ern sections of the United States. But one, only, proves 

 of especial value as ornamental or possessed of eco- 

 nomic worth. Shepherdia arge7itea, popularly known as 

 the buffalo or rabbit berry, grows from five to fifteen 

 feet high and is of slender proportions, with opposite ovate 

 or oblong leaves silvery white on both sides. The 

 branches are covered with gray bark, the whole contrast- 

 ing pleasantly with surrounding trees or shrubs of darker 

 shade. It is slightly thorny and capable of being used 

 for hedges to advantage. The flowers are small and in 

 compact clusters, bright yellow, appearing in April or 

 May in great profusion. The fruit which follows is still 

 more beautiful. It is scarlet or crimson, and hangs in 

 bunches sometimes covering almost the entire bush or 

 tree, and contrasting with the light-colored foliage to great 

 advantage. These berries have an agreeable acid taste 

 and prove edible for man or beast. The plant was intro- 

 duced many years ago to English gardens where it was 

 received with favor becoming its merits. S. canadensis is 

 a slightly smaller shrub but far less valuable for garden 

 cultivation. Its fruit is less showy, quite insipid, and the 

 branches, young leaves, and indeed the whole plant are 

 more or less covered with rusty scales. But it has its 



