Genus 2. 



BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 



503 



2. Rhamnus lanceolata Pursh. 



Lance-leavcd Buckthorn. 



Fig. 2824. 



Rhammis lanceolata Pursh. Fl. Am. Sept. i66. 

 1814. 



A tall erect shrub, with smooth grayish 

 bark, and unarmed mostly puberulent 

 branches. Leaves short-petioled, I'-jJ' long, 

 i'-i' wide, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, obtusish or acuminate at the apex, 

 acute or obtuse at the base, glabrous or 

 nearly so above, more or less pubescent, 

 especially on the veins beneath, finely ser- 

 rulate ; veins 6-7 pairs ; flowers axillary, 

 1-3 together, greenish, about li" broad, 

 appearing with the leaves ; pedicels l"-2" 

 long: petals, stamens and calyx-teeth 4; 

 drupe black, about 3" in diameter, obovoid- 

 globose ; stigmas 2 ; drupe containing 2 

 grooved nutlets. 



In moist soil. Pennsylvania to Iowa and 

 Nebraska, south to Alabama and Texas. May. 



3. Rhamnus alnifolia L'Her. Alder- 

 leaved Buckthorn. Dwarf Alder. 

 Fig. 2825. 



Rhamnus alnifolia L'Her. Sert. Angl. 5. 1788. 



A small shrub, with puberulent thornless 

 branches. Leaves oval to elliptic, 2'-4' long, i'-2' 

 wide, obtuse to acuminate at the ape.x, mainly 

 acute at the base, irregularly crenate-serrate ; veins 

 6-7 pairs; petioles 3"-6" long; flowers S-merous, 

 solitary or 2-t, together in the axils, green, about 

 iJ" broad, mainly dioecious, appearing with the 

 leaves; petals none; fruiting pedicels 3"-4" long; 

 drupe globose, or somewhat obovoid, about 3" in 

 diameter; nutlets 3, grooved. 



In swamps, Newfoundland to British Columbia, 

 south to New Jersey. Illinois, Nebraska, Wyoming 

 and California. Dogwood. May-June. 



4. Rhamnus caroliniana Walt. Carolina 

 Buckthorn. Bog-birch. Fig. 2826. 



Rhamnus caroliniana Walt. Fl. Car. loi. 1788. 

 Frangula caroliniana A. Gray, Gen. 2: 178. 1849. 



A tall thornless shrub, or sinall tree, with pu- 

 berulent twigs. Leaves elliptic or broadly oblong, 

 glabroiis, or somewhat hairy on the veins be- 

 neath, 2'-6' long, i'-2A' wide, acute or acuminate 

 at the apex, obtuse or acute at the base, obscurely 

 serrulate or even entire ; veins 6-10 pairs ; petioles 

 6"-g" long; flowers 5-mcrous, perfect, greenish, 

 about 1" broad, in axillary peduncled umbels, or 

 some of them solitary, unfolding after the leaves; 

 calyx finely puberulent, or glabrous, cainpanulate. 

 its lobes lanceolate, acuminate; petals present; 

 drupe globose, sweet, about 4" in diameter ; nut- 

 lets 3, not grooved. 



In swamps and low grounds, Virginia and Ken- 

 tucky to Missouri, Kansas. Florida and Texas. Er- 

 roneously recorded from New Jersey. Aider-leaved 

 Ijuckthorn. Indian-cherry. May-June. 



