View source for Buffaloberry

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Shepherdia''
| image = shepherdia_argentia_1.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Shepherdia argentea'', western Nevada
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Rosales]]
| familia = [[Elaeagnaceae]]
| genus = '''''Shepherdia'''''
| genus_authority = [[Thomas Nuttall|Nutt.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''''Shepherdia''''' ('''Buffaloberries''') are a genus of small shrubs which have rather bitter tasting berries, native to [[North America]]. The genus has three species:
*''[[Shepherdia argentea]]'' -  Silver Buffaloberry
*''[[Shepherdia canadensis]]'' - Canada Buffaloberry 
*''[[Shepherdia rotundifolia]]'' - Round-leaf Buffaloberry

The fruit are eaten primarily by [[bears]] and are presumably so popular with bears because they contain a molecule that helps to keep fat on the body which is useful for the winter season{{Fact|date=September 2007}}. Buffaloberries are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Engrailed|The Engrailed]] (recorded from ''S. canadensis'') and ''[[Coleophora|Coleophora elaeagnisella]]''.

Buffaloberries are edible for humans. They are quite sour, and afterwards leave the mouth a little dry. The berry is recognizeable by being a dark shade of red, with little white dots on them. They are rough to the touch, and found on both trees and shrubs.

[[Category:Elaeagnaceae]]

{{Rosales-stub}}