Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Rosales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Elaeagnus angustifolia
FAMILY
Elaeagnaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Read more about Russian Olive at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Elaeagnus angustifolia
FAMILY
Elaeagnaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 10 (2021)
Elaeagnus angustifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Elaeagnus angustifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Elaeagnus angustifolia
COMMON NAME:
Russian Olive, Oleaster
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / US Forest Service pnd_elan_010_lhd
)
Bruce A. Sorrie bas_e_angustifolia1
June Routt County CO
Leaves 3-8x long as wide; leaves with only silver scales beneath, per Weakley's Flora (2015).
)
Bruce A. Sorrie bas_e_angustifolia1b
June Routt County CO
Flowers fragrant, short-pedicelled, in small lateral clusters, per Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988).
)
Bruce A. Sorrie bas_e_angustifolia2
June Routt County CO
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/14/23):
Elaeagnus angustifolia
FAMILY
Elaeagnaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Elaeagnus angustifolia
FAMILY
Elaeagnaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 10
Elaeagnus angustifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Elaeagnus angustifolia
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America (Kartesz, 1999)
Elaeagnus angustifolia
503
Shrub
Perennial
Habitat: forests, pastures, disturbed areas, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Eurasia
Rare
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- SC Native Plant Society
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
May be armed with spinose spur shoots
LEAVES:
Deciduous/Semi-persistant
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Silvery-white/Yellow
Radially symmetrical
4-merous
4-lobed salverform calyx
Petals absent
4 inserted stamens
Superior ovary (hypanthium fleshy & persistent, thus ovary appearing inferior)
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Yellow
Drupe-like
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p136
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010) p018
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p099
- Trees of the Southeastern United States (Duncan & Duncan, 1988) p253
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p132
If a search such as "Carex leptalea var. leptalea" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "Carex leptalea".
Or, to minimize chances of a misspelling, try just "Carex le".
Less is more: If "pencil flower" doesn't deliver the results you want, try "pencil".