96 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



KEY TO THE BUCKTHOENS 



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



\ inch broad. (A.) 

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

 thorn (83) — Rhamnus cath&rtica. 



A. Leaves narrowed at base. Dahueian Buckthorn — Rhamnus 

 dahurica. 



* 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. 

 Rf;D-FRUiTED Evergreen Buckthorn (84) — Rhamnus 

 crdcea. 



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

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

 nus. 



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

 pairs ; fruit black. (D.) 



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

 Buckthorn — Rliamnus alpina. 



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

 long. Lebanon Buckthorn (86) — Rhamnus libS,n6tica. 



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

 black. (B.) 



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

 leaved Buckthorn (87) — Rhamnus alnifblia. 



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

 Buckthorn (88) — Rhamnus lanceoUta. 



* 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 wavy margins. CorFEE-BERRY 



— Rhamnus Purshi^na. 

 G. Leaves about entire. Carolina Buckthorn or Indian 

 'Cherry' (89) — Rhamnus caroliniSma. 

 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 aspleniifblia. 



