Rhamnus alnifolia

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Rhamnus alnifolia
Rhamnus alnifolia NRCS-1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Rhamnus
Species:
R. alnifolia
Binomial name
Rhamnus alnifolia
Synonyms
List
  • Apetlothamnus alnifolia (L'Hér.) Nieuwl.
  • Endotropis alnifolia (L'Hér.)
  • Girtanneria alnifolia (L'Hér.) Raf.
  • Ventia alnifolia (L'Hér.)
  • Frangula americana Mill.
  • Girtanneria franguloides (Michx.) Raf.
  • Rhamnus alnifolia f. angustifolia D.Löve & J.-P.Bernard
  • Rhamnus alpina Richardson
  • Rhamnus franguloides Michx.

Rhamnus alnifolia is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family known by the common names alderleaf buckthorn, [1] or alder buckthorn. Unlike other "buckthorns", this alder buckthorn does not have thorns. [2] It is native to North America, and can be found in forested habitat.

Contents

Description

Rhamnus alnifolia is a spreading shrub usually 0.5 to 1.5 metres (20 to 59 inches) tall, [3] rarely to 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft), its thin branches bearing deciduous leaves. [4] The thin, deeply veined leaves have oval blades 4.5 to 11 centimetres (1+3⁄4 to 4+3⁄8 in) long, pointed at the tip and lightly toothed along the edges. [3] The inflorescence is a solitary flower or umbel of up to three flowers occurring in leaf axils. The tiny flowers are about 1 millimetre (1⁄16 in) wide [4] and have five green sepals but no petals. [5] Female flowers produce drupes 6 to 8 mm (1⁄4 to 5⁄16 in) wide, each containing three seeds. The drupes darken to black when ripe. [3]

Distribution and habitat

It can be found in the southern half of Canada and the northern half of the United States, [6] [7] mostly in the Pacific Northwest. It grows in streambanks and on humid flats near mountains. [8]

Uses

The berry is inedible. [8] Native Americans used the species as a laxative. [9]

References

  1. ↑ NRCS. "Rhamnus alnifolia". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Catling, P.M., and Z.S. Porebski. 1994. The history of invasion and current status of glossy buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula, in Southern Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 108:305–310
  3. 1 2 3 Nesom, Guy L. (2016). "Rhamnus alnifolia". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 12. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  4. 1 2 Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Rhamnus alnifolia". Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley.
  5. ↑ Chayka, Katy; Dziuk, Peter (2016). "Rhamnus alnifolia (Alder-leaved Buckthorn)". Minnesota Wildflowers.
  6. ↑ Kartesz, John T. (2014). "Rhamnus alnifolia". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP).
  7. ↑ Kartesz, John T. (2014). "Rhamnus alnifolia". State-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP).
  8. 1 2 Turner, Mark; Kuhlmann, Ellen (2014). Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest (1st ed.). Portland, OR: Timber Press. p. 233. ISBN   978-1-60469-263-1.
  9. ↑ Arno, Stephen F.; Hammerly, Ramona P. (2020) [1977]. Northwest Trees: Identifying & Understanding the Region's Native Trees (field guide ed.). Seattle: Mountaineers Books. p. 266. ISBN   978-1-68051-329-5. OCLC   1141235469.


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