| Shepherdia argentea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Elaeagnaceae |
| Genus: | Shepherdia |
| Species: | S. argentea |
| Binomial name | |
| Shepherdia argentea | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Shepherdia argentea, commonly calledsilver buffaloberry,[3]bull berry, orthorny buffaloberry, is a species ofShepherdia in theOleaster family. It is native to central and western North America.
Shepherdia argentea is adeciduous shrub growing from 2–6 metres (6+1⁄2–19+1⁄2 ft) tall. Theleaves are arranged in opposite pairs (rarely alternately arranged),2–6 centimetres (3⁄4–2+1⁄4 in) long, oval with a rounded apex, green with a covering of fine silvery, silky hairs, more thickly silvery below than above.[4]
Theflowers are pale yellow, with four sepals but no petals.[4]
Thefruit is a bright red fleshydrupe 5 mm in diameter; it is edible but with a rather bitter taste.[5] Two cultivars, 'Xanthocarpa' and 'Goldeneye', form yellow fruit.[4]
TheLatin specific epithetargentea refers to the silver color of the plant's leaves and stems.[6]
Shepherdia argentea is native to the western and central parts of Canada and North America,[7] from thePrairie Provinces of Canada (Alberta,Saskatchewan,Manitoba) southwards in the United States as far asVentura County inCalifornia, as well as northernArizona, and northwesternNew Mexico.[8][9]
It grows in many different kinds of habitats such as riparian areas, woodlands, exposed slopes on prairies, and in dry, sandy soils of plains and canyons.[6]
The berry is one of the mainstays of the diet of thesharp-tailed grouse, the provincial bird ofSaskatchewan. The foliage provides important forage formule deer[10] andwhite-tailed deer.[11] The shrub's thorny branches and thicket forming habit provide a shelter for many small animal species and an ideal nesting site for songbirds.[12] Over the extent of its range, the buffaloberry is an important species in a variety of ecological communities. For example, in the shrub-grassland communities ofNorth Dakota it is found growing with many native grasses, while inriparian woodlands ofMontana and WesternNorth Dakota it can be found in plant communities dominated bygreen ash.[13]
Like theCanada buffaloberry,S. argentea has been used historically as a food, medicine, and dye.[14] Its various uses including the treatment of stomach troubles and incoming-of-age ceremonies for girls.[15]
In theGreat Basin, the berries were eaten raw and dried for winter use, but more often cooked into a flavoring sauce forbison meat.[16] The buffaloberry has been a staple food to some Native Americans, who ate the berries in puddings, jellies, and in raw or dried form.[17]
TheGosiute Shoshone name for the plant isañ-ka-mo-do-nûp.[18]
Media related toShepherdia argentea at Wikimedia Commons
