Widely branched shrub or small tree to 6 m, colonial by roots; branches stiff, often shortly thorn-tipped; lvs silvery-lepidote on both sides, oblong to lanceolate, 2-5 נ0.5-1.5(-2.5) cm, narrowed to the base; fls a little smaller than in no. 1 [Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt.]; fr scarlet, 6-9 mm, edible but sour; 2n=26. River-banks and canyons; Minn. and Io. to B.C. and N.M. Apr., May, with the lvs.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
