Russian Olive vs. Silverleaf Buffaloberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia vs. Shepherdia argentea) Russian olive is closely related to silveleaf buffaloberry. At first glance these two relatives appear very similar. They grow in common places, have thorns, and can take on shrub-like forms. However, upon closer inspection you will find several differences between these species. Silverleaf Russian olive (invasive) Buffaloberry VS (native) Leaves Leaves Arranged in alternate pairs; Arranged in opposite pairs; useful memory trick: invasive useful memory trick: nave has UNBALANCED arrangement has BALANCED arrangement 0.8‐4” long and 0.4‐1.6” wide 1‐2” long and about 3/8” wide Upper surface green‐gray; lower Silvery on both top and boom surface silvery‐gray Leaves emerge 1‐2 weeks aer flowering Chris Evans, Illinois Wildlife Acon Plan, Bugwood.org Flowers Flowers hp://prairieform.com/ Yellow, bell shaped flower clus‐ Small yellow flower clusters; ters; appear between May and appear April to mid‐late summer June Insect pollinated; esp. aracve Insect pollinated to honey bees and bumble bees Male and female flowers on Male and female flowers on separate plants separate plants Flowers lack petals and have 4 Male flowers are longer (2‐3 petal‐like sepals and 4 stamens mm) and have 8 stamens John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy; Bugword.org Photo ©Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com Fruit Fruit Newly‐formed fruits are silver Fruit yellow or light orange in but become tan or brown as early summer; turn red later in they mature season Shaped like small olives; contain Fruit drupe shaped; contain a single seed single seed Eaten by over 50 species of bird Important food source for many or wildlife, 12 of them being birds and animals including mule game birds deer, bears, rodents and several bird species Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administraon, Bug‐ wood.org Photo ©Al Schneider, www.swcoloradowildflowers.com Russian Olive vs. Silverleaf Buffaloberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia vs. Shepherdia argentea) Russian olive is closely related to silveleaf buffaloberry. At first glance these two relatives appear very similar. They grow in common places, have thorns, and can take on shrub-like forms. However, upon closer inspection you will find several differences between these species. Silverleaf Russian olive (invasive) Buffaloberry VS (native) Thorns Thorns Terminal thorns on twigs; Terminal thorns; alternately arranged oppositely arranged Sharp and numerous! Sharp and numerous! Ecology & Habitat Ecology & Habitat Nave to Europe and western Nave to N. America Asia Important component of Considered an invasive plant riparian ecosystems Michael Hough, copyright 2005 Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org 12‐45’ tall, 4‐20” diameter 3.5‐20’ tall, up to 10” diameter hp://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/ trunks trunks Oen forms dense thickets Can grow in thickets Does not sprout asexually unless Can sprout vegetavely injured or top killed Provides ideal cover and nesng Provides some wildlife habitat, for many species but species richness higher in Typically grow between ~ 3500‐ naves 7000’ elevaon Can occur from sea level to ~ 8000’ elevaon Ma Lavin; Wikimedia Traditional Uses Traditional Uses In Iran, the dried powder of the Nave Americans used fruits to fruit is used mixed with milk to treat a variety of health issues treat rheumatoid arthris and Fruits also used for beverages, joint pains preserves, porridge, sauces, and Flowers have been used tradi‐ dried cakes ; Plains Indians oen onally to treat tetanus, among served a sauce made from the other health problems, includ‐ berries with bison meat (hence ing: “bringing people back from the name buffaloberry) their deathbeds” legendsofamerica.com .