Shepherdia

 ( Rosales Genera ) 

Shepherdia, commonly called buffaloberry or bullberry, is a genus of small shrubs in the Elaeagnaceae family. The plants are native to northern and western North America. They are non-legume nitrogen fixers.

Shepherdia is dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on separate plants.

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Species The genus has three living species:

• Shepherdia argentea - silver buffaloberry
• Shepherdia canadensis - Canada buffaloberry
• Shepherdia rotundifolia - roundleaf buffaloberry, endemism to southern Utah and northern Arizona

An additional extinct species is also placed in the genus:

• † Shepherdia weaveri - Paleocene/Eocene Kachemak Bay, Alaska

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Fruit The berry is recognizable by being a dark shade of red, with little white dots on them. They are rough to the touch, and are found on both trees and shrubs.

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Wildlife The plants have rather bitter-tasting berries. The fruit are often eaten by to maintain fat stores during hibernation.

Thomas S. Elias, Professor (1983). 9780442222543, Cengage Learning. . ISBN 9780442222543

Buffaloberries are used as food plants by the of some Lepidoptera species, including Ectropis crepuscularia (recorded from S. canadensis) and Coleophora elaeagnisella.

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As food Buffaloberries are sour and can be made into jam, pie, jelly, syrup, soups, or prepared like cranberry sauce with sugar added.

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External links

Categories: Rosales Genera, Dioecious Plants, Flora Of Northern America, Taxa Described In 1818, Taxa Named By Thomas Nuttall

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