# Id this plant

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054 "2014-02-11T13:26:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/1 "2014-02-11T13:26:11Z")

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Central South Carolina. Looks somewhat similar to the previously identifed Cherry Laurel. [Pic 1](http://s294.photobucket.com/user/badger60/media/plant1_zps31f923ee.jpg.html#/user/badger60/media/plant1_zps31f923ee.jpg.html) [Pic 2](http://s294.photobucket.com/user/badger60/media/plant2_zps3702b772.jpg.html#/user/badger60/media/plant2_zps3702b772.jpg.html). The fruit, including the piece of stem is about the length of a penny’s diameter. The fruit, at least at this time, is largely one big seed with just a green skin covering it.

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**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/2 "2014-02-11T13:59:13Z")

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How big is the plant? A tree, a shrub?

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**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/3 "2014-02-11T14:09:08Z")

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Looks like some kind of Elaengnus.

[![](http://tcf.bh.cornell.edu/users/jdelaet/3_15_10_20/oeploa941/nDSC_8021.JPG) ](http://tcf.bh.cornell.edu/users/jdelaet/3_15_10_20/oeploa941/nDSC_8021.JPG)

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/4 "2014-02-11T14:19:28Z")

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Wow, that’s pretty close. This particular plant is a tree, probably at least 10-12 feet high. [I know that botanists have some strict definitions on what is considered a tree, so I am speaking from a non-botanical background.]

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**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/5 "2014-02-11T14:32:40Z")

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Oops, have had difficulty spelling that word correctly, supposed to be Elaeagnus.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/6 "2014-02-11T15:10:28Z")

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[Eleagnus pungens](https://www.google.com/search?q=elaeagnus+pungens&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=PHb&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Gz36UuTdE8nl0wHviYDYCQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1600&bih=758#channel=sb&q=elaeagnus+pungens+fruit&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&safe=off&tbm=isch)?

My first thought was some kind of olive, as well.

ETA: And I see that was exactly what **Ostrya** posted…

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/7 "2014-02-11T16:44:41Z")

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Thanks, all!

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**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-plant/681054/8 "2014-02-11T21:13:23Z")

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Man, that [Elaeagnus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaeagnus_pungens) word is hard to spell. 😉