Silverberry-Wolf-Willow (Elaeagnus commutata)-

Edible: Not traditionally considered palatable.

Silverberry-Wolf-willow(Elaeagnus commutata) , is a species native to western and boreal North America, British Columbia, east to Quebec, south to Utah, and across the upper Midwestern United States. It typically grows on dry to moist sandy and gravel soils in steppes, meadows or woodland edges.

   

 Berries are silver-coloured, dry and mealy, with a stone inside.

They grow on a bush, 4-12 feet high, with dark, greyish red branches and silvery scruffy leaves. The flowers are silvery outside and yellowish inside.

The berries are very dry and astringent but, some northern peoples gathered them for food. Most groups considered the mealy berries as strictly famine/survival food. and did not ingest them on a regular basis When they were eaten they were consumed raw, or cooked in soup. They might also be cooked with blood or mixed with animal fat pemican style.Despite not being very palatable rawthey reportedly make good jams and jellies so in modern day  are gaining popularity as an organic health food.