Genus 2. 



BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 



503: 



2. Rhamnus lanceolata Pursh. 



Lance-leaved Buckthorn. 



Fig. 2824. 



Rhamnus lanceolata Pursh, FI. Am. Sept. 166. 

 1814. 



A tall erect shrub, with smooth grayish 

 bark, and unarmed mostly puberulent 

 branches. Leaves short-petioled, I'-^V 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 i4" 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 apex, mainly 

 acute at the base, irregularly crenate-serrate ; veins 

 6-7 pairs; petioles 3"-6" long; flowers 5-merous, 

 solitary or 2-3 together in the axils, green, about 

 li" 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. FI. Car. loi. 1788. 

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



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

 berulent twigs. Leaves elliptic or broadly oblong, 

 glabrous, or somewhat hairy on the veins be- 

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

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

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

 6"-9" long; flowers 5-merous, perfect, greenish, 

 about i" broad, in axillary peduncled umbels, or 

 some of them solitary, unfolding after the leaves; 

 calyx finely puberulent, or glabrous, campanulate, 

 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. Alder-leaved 

 buckthorn. Indian-cherry. May-June. 



