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PCA Alien Plant Working Group - Russian-Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) <br />JKVI ssiah- otiUe <br />Elaeagnus angustifolia L. <br />Oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae) <br />NATIVE RANGE: Southeastern Europe and <br />Western Asia <br />DESCRIPTION: Russian-olive is a small, usually <br />thorny shrub or small tree that can grow to 30 feet <br />in height. Its stems, buds, and leaves have a <br />dense covering of silvery to rusty scales. Leaves <br />are egg or lance-shaped, smooth margined, and <br />alternate along the stem. At three years of age, <br />plants begin to flower and fruit. Highly aromatic, <br />creamy yellow flowers appear in June and July <br />and are later replaced by clusters of abundant <br />silvery fruits. <br />ECOLOGICAL THREAT POSED BY PLANT: <br />Russian-olive can outcompete native vegetation, <br />interfere with natural plant succession and nutrient <br />cycling, and tax water reserves. Because <br />Russian-olive is capable of fixing nitrogen in its <br />roots, it can grow on bare, mineral substrates and <br />dominate riparian vegetation where overstory <br />cottonwoods have died. Although Russian-olive <br />provides a plentiful source of edible fruits for birds, <br />ecologists have found that bird species richness is <br />actually higher in riparian areas dominated by <br />native vegetation. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />http://w-vAN,.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/elanl.htm 6/6/2005