Talk:Elaeagnus umbellata

More description detail needed. [Query]

I live in the lower Hudson River Valley (left bank) in an area that is very rocky (ridges of slate run through the area) with a thin layer of soil over it. The property is wooded. The shrub-to-small-tree-sized plants are growing wild and appear very like the plant in this article, so far as I can tell. I just saw a blog where the berries of the autumn-olive are described as having minute silver speckles, as do the plants I'm looking at. Does Elaeagnus umbellata berries have those speckles? If the berries are okay for human consumption, then I imagine that birds, bunnies, and bears will eat them, too? The leaves of my plant are deep green on top with a very fine texture seen and are silvery underneath. The thorns that I see are needle-like: slim, sharp, about 1" long, and appear on the thicker branches, not on the young whip-like ones. If someone has a source of information, perhaps you could fill in more details here? Thank you, Wordreader (talk) 06:35, 22 September 2016 (UTC)

Hi there--we're really not supposed to do this here...but... Here's what I'd suggest you do. For starters you can go to a local nursery with a sample of your plant. As likely as not they will not be able to ID it for you but they may have books on hand that contain good info that may help. The next step would be your local college and/or your county ag agent who could assist you. Please keep us informed on what you find. Gandydancer (talk) 13:47, 22 September 2016 (UTC)

They sure do seem to be speckled! https://www.google.com/search?q=elaeagnus+umbellata+fruit&espv=2&biw=546&bih=257&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiqhaeRj6PPAhWBNiYKHYjpDA0Q_AUIBigB Get your jelly kettle out! Gandydancer (talk) 13:53, 22 September 2016 (UTC)