My son and his family were walking on the swamp rabbit trail in Fountain Inn SC. They came across this plant and sent me the picture for identification. This is the only image that I have.
Hi Larry,
this is an evergreen shrub called Elaeagnus pungens, commonly called thorny olive or silverthorn. It is native to China and Japan, and it sometimes escapes from cultivation because birds like to eat the fruits and scatter the seeds.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS