Overview
Elaeagnaceae, the oleaster family, is a plant family of the order Rosales comprising small trees and shrubs, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical Asia and Australia. The family has 45-50 species in three genera.
They are commonly thorny, with simple leaves often coated with tiny scales or hairs. Most of the species are xerophytes (found in dry habitats); several are also halophytes, tolerating high levels of soil salinity.
The Elaeagnaceae often harbor nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes of the genus Frankia in their roots, making them useful for soil reclamation.1] This characteristic, together with their production of plentiful seeds, often results in Eleagnaceae being viewed as weeds.
ften coated with tiny scales or hairs. Most of the species are xerophytes (found in dry habitats); several are also halophytes, tolerating high levels of soil salinity.The Elaeagnaceae often harbor nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes of the genus Frankia in their roots, making them useful for soil reclamation.1] This characteristic, together with their production of plentiful seeds, often results in Eleagnaceae being viewed as weeds.
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External links
Taxonomy
The Family Elaeagnaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (4): Asteroideae · Faboideae · Polemonioideae · Rhododendroideae
- Tribe (4): Coreopsideae · Polemonieae · Rhododendreae · Tephrosieae
- Genus (9): Argussiera · Elaeagnus · Hippophae · Hippophaes · Lepargyraea · Lepargyrea · Octarillum · Rhamnoides · Shepherdia
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 430 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in the Family Elaeagnaceae.
Genera
Argussiera
Elaeagnus
Elaeagnus (Silverberry or Oleaster) is a genus of about 50-70 species of flowering plants in the Elaeagnaceae. The vast majority of the species are native to temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, with one species (E. triflora) extending south into northeastern Australia, and another species (E. commutata) restricted to North America. Another species (E. angustifolia) may also be native in southeasternmost Europe though may be an early human introduction there. [more]
Hippophae
The sea-buckthorns (Hippophae L.) are deciduous shrubs in the genus Hippophae, family Elaeagnaceae. The name sea-buckthorn is hyphenated here to avoid confusion with the buckthorns (Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae). It is also referred to as sandthorn, sallowthorn, or seaberry. [more]
Hippophaes
Lepargyraea
Lepargyrea
Octarillum
Rhamnoides
Shepherdia
Shepherdia (Buffaloberries also called bullberries) are a genus of small shrubs which have rather bitter tasting berries, native to northern and western North America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixers. The genus has three species: [more]
At least 9 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Shepherdia.
More info about the Genus Shepherdia may be found here.
References
Sources
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