9G DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



KEY TO THE BUCKTHORNS 



* Leaves opposite and serrate ; plants usually thorny ; fruit black, 



1 inch broad. (A.) 

 A. Leaves broad at base, sometimes heart-shaped. Common lircK- 

 Tiioux (83) — Rhamnus cathartica. 



A. Leaves narrowed at base. Dahuriax Bucktiiokn — Rliauuius 

 dahiirica. 



* Leaves alternate ; plants not thorny ; winter buds scaly ; petals 4 or 



more. (B.) 



B. Leaves evergreen ; hardy only South ; shrubs or small trees to 20 

 feet. (C.) 



C. Twigs somewhat hairy ; leaves orbicular,, dentate ; fruit red. 

 Red-fruited Evergreen Buckthorx (84) — Rhamnus 

 crocea. 



C. Twigs smooth ; leaves oval ; fruit nearly black. Black- 

 fruited Evergreen Buckthorn (85) — Rhamnus Alat^r- 

 nus. 



B. Leaves thinner and deciduous with many side-veins, 10-20 

 pairs; fruit black. (D.) 



D. Twigs smooth ; leaves pale green, 2-6 inches long. Mountain 

 Buckthorn — Rhamnus alpina. 



D. Twigs pubescent ; leaves brownish when mature, 3-9 inches 

 long. Lebanon Buckthorn (8G) — Rhamnus libanotica. 



B. Leaves deciduous with but few side-veins, 4-9 pairs ; fruit 

 black. (E.) 



E. Wide-spreading shrub to 4 feet; fruit with 3 nutlets. Alder- 

 i.EAVED Buckthorn (87) — Rhamnus alnifolia. 



E. 'Jail erect shrub to 8 feet ; fruit with 2 nutlets. Lance-leaved 

 Buckthorn (88) — Rhamnus lanceolkta. 



* Leaves alternate ; plants not thorny ; winter buds naked, not scaly ; 



petals 5. (F.) 

 F. Leaves thickish, nearly evergreen, 1-7 inches long ; fruit red 

 changing to black. (G.) 

 G. Leaves with notched and often Avavy margins. Coffee-berry 



— Rhamnus Purshi^na. 

 G. Leaves about entire. Carolina Buckthorn or Indian 

 ' Cherry ' (89) — Rhamnus carolini^na. 

 F. Leaves thinner and smaller, 1-3 inches long ; nutlets 2. Alder 



Buckthorn (90) — Rhamnus Frangula. 

 F. Leaves linear with undulate edge ; nutlets 2. Fern-leaved 

 Buckthorn (91) — Rhamnus Frangula aspleniifolia. 



