RHAMNACEAE 



HOLLYLEAF BuCKTHORN 



Rhamnus crocea var. ilicifolia (Kell.) Greene 



HABIT. A shrub or small evergreen tree rarely 25 feet high 

 and 6-8 inches in diameter; crown round; branches stout. 



LEAVES. Alternate or sub-opposite; simple; oval or orbicu- 

 lar; 1-1^ inches long; margin spinulose-dentate; leathery; 

 glabrous; yellow-green above, often golden below; persistent. 



FLOWERS. Regular; polygamo-dioecious; in small axillary 

 clusters; calyx about Vs inch long, 4-lobed; petals absent. 



FRUIT. Drupaceous; obovoid; V4 inch in diameter; red; 

 flesh thin and dry; with 2-3 brown nutlets ^8 inch long, hard. 



TWIGS. Slender; round; rigid and often spmescent; red- 

 brown; glabrous. Winter buds: terminal absent; lateral He 

 inch long, scaly, obtuse, scales hairy-fringed. 



BARK, Thin {%,-yQ inch); dark gray; slightly roughened 

 by minute tubercles; acrid and bitter. 



WOOD. Moderately heavy and hard; brittle; fine-grained; 

 ring-porous; heartwood light yellow-brown; unimportant. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Intolerant; prolific seeder; on 

 hot, dry hillsides; in pure groups or scattered. 



Bluewood. Logwood 



Condalia obovata Hook 

 This velvety-pubescent shrub or small tree is one of the com- 

 mon chaparral species of western Texas and southeastern New 

 Mexico, commonly forming dense thickets. It is characterized 

 by small {Vi-Va inch long), entire, tardily deciduous, alternate 

 or fascicled leaves; small axillary flowers; and a deep red, sub- 

 globose drupe K inch in diameter, to which the calyx is attached. 



* * * 

 Blueblossom Ceanothus 



Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Eschs. 



This shrub or small tree is common in coastal forests from 

 southern Oregon to central California. It is characterized by 

 simple, alternate, minutely toothed, persistent leaves I-IV^ 

 inches long; small, perfect, blue or white flowers; a subglobose, 

 3-lobed, dry drupe Va inch long which separates into 3 nutlets; 

 and scaly lateral buds. C. arbor eus Greene and C. spinosus Nutt. 

 are small trees in southern California. 



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