Elaeagnus angustifolia
 
Russian Olive

Fruit Longitudinal Section

Regina
18-August-2015

The fruit consists of an achene surrounded by fleshy tissue derived from the hypanthium.  This is an example of an accessory fruit.

Angustifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

shrubs spiny

young twigs silvery stellate-pubescent ; NOT [young twigs brown stellate-pubescent]

leaves lanceolate; NOT [leaves elliptic]

style enclosed at base by tubular disc

fruit yellow; NOT [fruit silvery, dry]

 

Elaeagnus: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite]

flowers perfect or polygamous; NOT [flowers unisexual]

sepals 4; NOT [sepals 2]

stamens 4; NOT [stamens 8]

tube much longer than the ovary; NOT [tube shorter]

 

Elaeagnaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

shrubs or trees; NOT [herbs]

plants with erect stems; NOT [plants with decumbent stems]

plants not climbing

leaves simple; NOT [leaves pinnately compound]

leaves wider; NOT [leaves linear]

leaves silvery or brownish scurfy

leaves deciduous; NOT [leaves evergreen]

flowers not in catkins or aments; NOT [male flowers, at least, in catkins or aments]

flowers with only one floral ring

fruit without a feathery style; NOT [fruit with a persistent feathery style]

fruit fleshy when ripe; NOT [fruit dry when ripe]