TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

RHAMNACEAE

BUCKTHORN FAMILY

John O. Sawyer, Jr. (except Ceanothus)

Shrub, vine, tree, generally erect, often thorny
Leaves simple, generally alternate, often clustered on short-shoots, generally petioled, generally stipuled; blade often 1–3-ribbed from base
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, or flowers solitary in axils
Flower generally bisexual, radial; hypanthium subtending, surrounding, or partly fused to ovary; sepals 4 or 5; petals 0, 4, or 5, clawed; stamens 4 or 5, alternate sepals, attached to hypanthium top, each generally fitting into a petal concavity; ovary superior or partly inferior, chambers 2–5, each 1–2-ovuled, style lobes or parts 1–3
Fruit: capsule, drupe
Genera in family: 55 genera, 900 species: especially tropical, subtropical; some cultivated (Ceanothus ; Colletia , anchor-plant; Gouania ; Phylica ; Rhamnus ; Ventilago ; Ziziphus )
Reference: [Brizicky 1965 J Arnold Arbor 45:439–463]

CEANOTHUS

CALIFORNIA-LILAC

Clifford L. Schmidt

Shrub, small tree, prostrate to erect, thorny or not
Stem: branches generally arranged as leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite, deciduous or evergreen, petioled; blade 1–3-ribbed from base, margin entire or not
Inflorescence: generally panicle-like aggregations of umbel-like, 3-flowered clusters
Flower generally < 5 mm; hypanthium surrounding fleshy disk below ovary base, in fruit thick, not splitting; sepals generally 5, lanceolate-deltate, incurved, colored like petals, persistent; petals generally 5, hooded, white to deep blue; stamens generally 5, opposite petals; ovary superior, 3-lobed, chambers 3, each 1-ovuled, style parts 3
Fruit: capsule, ± spheric, 3-valved
Seeds 3, ± 3 mm, 1 surface convex
Species in genus: 45 species: North America, especially w
Etymology: (Greek: thorny plant)
Reference: [Rensselaer & McMinn 1942 Ceanothus Santa Barbara Bot Gard 1–308]
Hybridization common (named hybrids not recognized here); hybrid forms may not key adequately.

Native

C. foliosus Parry

Plant ± prostrate to erect, < 2 m
Stem: twigs round, ± pale green, often glandular-hairy, becoming gray
Leaves alternate, evergreen, < 2 cm; stipules deciduous; petiole < 3 mm; blade narrowly oblong to widely elliptic or obovate, generally 1-ribbed or faintly 3-ribbed from base, tip obtuse, margin generally minutely gland-toothed, upper surface dull to dark green, puberulent, lower paler, hairy or not
Inflorescence generally raceme-like, 3–8 cm
Flower blue
Fruit generally 4 mm, smooth, faintly lobed; valves ± crested
Ecology: Dry slopes
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Peninsular Ranges.

Native

var. foliosus

WAVYLEAF CEANOTHUS

Plant ± ascending, generally < 1 m
Leaf: blade oblong to widely elliptic, upper surface dark green, ± glabrous, lower hairs few, scattered
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Openings on dry slopes
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, Peninsular Ranges
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21; CVS.