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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]

RHAMNUS

BUCKTHORN

Shrub, small tree
Stem: branches alternate, flexible; twigs sometimes thorn-tipped
Leaves sometimes clustered on short-shoots, deciduous or evergreen, petioled; stipules deciduous; blade 1-ribbed from base, entire or not
Inflorescence: umbel or flowers solitary, axillary
Flower bisexual or unisexual, generally < 3 mm; hypanthium at base fused to, developing around ovary in fruit, above base deciduous; sepals 4 or 5; petals 0, 4, or 5; stamens 4 or 5; ovary appearing partly inferior, chambers 2–4, each 1–2-ovuled, style lobes 2–4
Fruit: drupe, 2–4-stoned
Species in genus: 125 species: temp, few tropical
Etymology: (Greek: name for plants of this genus)
Reference: [Wolf 1938 Rancho Santa Ana Bot Gard Monogr 1]
Some of value in medicine or as dyes.

Native

R. californica Eschsch.

CALIFORNIA COFFEEBERRY

Shrub < 5 m
Stem: bark bright gray or brown; twigs glabrous to finely hairy; terminal bud not covered with scales
Leaves evergreen; petiole 3–10 mm; blade 20–80 mm, ovate to elliptic, thick, base acute to rounded, tip acute, rounded, or truncate, margin serrate to entire, sometimes rolled under, both surfaces ± glabrous
Inflorescence 5–60-flowered; pedicels < 20 mm
Flower bisexual; hypanthium 1–2 mm; sepals 5; petals 5; style included
Fruit 10–15 mm, black
Ecology: Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, woodlands, forests
Elevation: < 2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California, n Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Western California, Southwestern California, Desert Mountains (Providence Mtns)
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Sspp. intergrade in intermediate habitats.

Native

subsp. occidentalis (Howell) C.B. Wolf


Stem: twigs brown
Leaf: blade ovate to elliptic, base rounded, tip acute, rounded, or truncate, both surfaces ± equally yellowish, veins not prominent
Fruit 3- stoned
Ecology: Serpentine
Elevation: < 2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges, n Sierra Nevada Foothills
Distribution outside California: sw Oregon
Horticultural information: DRN, DRY: 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 &SHD, IRR: 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21.

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