Oleaster

Oleaster (Elaeagnus) - Shrubs of much garden value.

Elaeagnus Angustifolia - The form which grows wild in S.E. Europe, is the wild Olive of the old Greek authors. The long, silvery-grey fruit is constantly sold in the Constantinople markets under the name of "Ighide agaghi," and is sweet and pleasant to the taste, abounding as it does in a dry, mealy, saccharine substance. The general aspect of this form is much more that of a Willow than an Olive, the long lanceolate leaves being greyish above and silvery-white beneath. Best in sandy or warm soil.

the Silver Berry or Missouri Silver Tree (Elaeagnus Argentea) - Has very fragrant tubular yellow flowers, followed by an abundance of nearly globular, dry, mealy, edible fruit. This species gives a characteristic feature to the vegetation of the Upper Missouri valley, and in a wild state grows 8 or 10 feet in height. The oval leaves are silvery-white. In nearly all British and foreign nurseries this species is confused with the Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia argentea), a genus belonging to the same natural order, but altogether different from it.

Elaeagnus Hortensis - A somewhat variable plant with a wide geographical distribution, is cultivated in many countries for the sake of its fruit. In Dr Aitchisons Botany of the Afghan Delimitation Commission it is described as a shrub or tree occurring at an elevation of 3000 feet and upwards, near running streams, and cultivated largely in orchards for its fruit.

Elaeagnus Longipes - Prof. Sargent thus writes of it in Garden and Forest: "The plant may well be grown for the beauty of its fruit alone, which, moreover, is juicy and edible, with a sharp, rather pungent, agreeable, flavor. Both the size and the flavor can doubtless be improved by careful selection, and it is quite within the range of possibility that it may become a highly esteemed and popular dessert and culinary fruit. To some persons, even in its present state, the flavor is far preferable to that of the Currant or the Gooseberry." The fruit, as implied by the specific name, is borne on long stalks; it is bright red in color and covered with minute white dots. The branches are covered with rusty brown scales, and the somewhat leathery leaves are dark green above and silvery-white beneath.

Elaeagnus Macrophylla - n evergreen species from China and Japan, has large roundish leaves, greyish above and silvery beneath. It is quite distinct in appearance from any other hardy shrub, and is a very fine silvery evergreen, distinct in effect.

Elaeagnus Pungens, E - Labra, and E. Reflexa are beautiful evergreens, which are not very dissimilar in general aspect, and which without long dry scientific descriptions it would be impossible to distinguish. Variegated forms exist of all three, and any of them, as well as the types, are well worthy of a place in the pleasure-ground. They are all natives of Japan, etc., but do not appear to be quite as hardy as the species previously mentioned; all could be tried, however, with every prospect of success in the southern countries. Some of them in the south of Europe assume a somewhat climbing habit, and round the N. Italian lakes, for example, grow up to the tops of high Fir and Pine trees.

Elaeagnus Umbellata - a beautiful shrub. The leaves are deep green and glabrous on the upper surface; in a young state earlier in the season they are silvery-grey, and silvery-white beneath. The creamy-white flowers are produced in the greatest pro-fusion in June. In some localities the plant is nearly evergreen, and is probably hardy throughout Britain, as it withstands the winters of N. Germany. In a wild state it occurs from the Himalayas to China and Japan.

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