ELAEAGNACEAE
Morphological description
Woody; covered with stellate scales. Usually climbing, older stems with branched thorns
Leaves
Leaves spiral, simple, entire; venation pinnate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence small racemes or fascicles, or solitary flowers.
Flowers
Flower usually bisexual.
Fruit
Fruit achene enveloped by the hypanthium resembling a drupe or berry with a single seed.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Thymelaeaceae: unarmed, no scales.
Distribution: The family mainly occurs in the northern hemisphere. In Malesia only Elaeagnus with two rain forest species.
Notes: Affinity of the family is uncertain. The fruits are edible, but very sour.
Literature: J.F. Veldkamp, Fl. Males. I, 10 (1986) 151-156.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Elaeagnus 12, 26; E. triflora 25.
Illustrations: Fig. 74. Elaeagnus conferta Roxb. (Elaeagnaceae). Habit; flowers, enlarged. Reproduced from Flora Malesiana I, 10 (1986) 154, fig. 1a-c.
Image in PhytoImages for Elaeagnaceae