Family Elaeagnaceae, composed of three genera of hardy shrubs and small trees, found in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in steppe and coastal regions.
The plants' tiny, distinctive scales give them a silvery or rust-coloured sheen. Many members of the family perform nitrogen fixation . The berries of several species are edible. Ornamental shrubs in this family include buffalo berry or silverberry ( Shepherdia argentea ), oleaster or Russian olive ( Elaeagnus angustifolia ), and sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides ).