Ord. 23. EHAMNACEA 



1. FRANGULA, Tourn,, A. Gray. 



1. Frangula Californica, Gray. 



Frangula Californica, Gray, Gen. 111. Gen. Am. Bor. 2, p. 178 ; Torr. Bot. Mex. 



Bound. Surv. p. 46. 

 Bhamnus Californicus, Eschsch. in Mem. Acad. St. Petersb. 10, p. 281 ; Torr. & 



Gray, Fl. 1, p. 263. 

 B. olecefolius, Hook. Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1, p. 123, t. 44; Hook. & Arn. Bot. Beechey, 



p. 136 ; Torr. & Gray, 1. c. 

 B. laurifolius, Nutt. in Torr. & Gray, 1. c. 

 B. tomentellus, Benth. PI. Hartw. p. 303. 



Hab. Valley of the Sacramento, and near San Francisco. — A 

 spreading shrub, commonly 3 to 8 feet high, but sometimes attaining 

 the height of 18 feet. The leaves are rather thin when young, but 

 finally they become coriaceous, and commonly about two inches long. 

 They vary from ovate-oblong to elliptical, and are either entire or ser- 

 rulate. The under surface is more or less distinctly dotted with 

 minute brownish glands or scales, and there are from 12 to 13 pairs 

 of strong veins. In dried specimens the margin is often revolute. 

 The flowers are in small naked or leafy axillary panicles, most of 

 which fail to produce fruit, so that the drupes are either solitary, or 

 two or three together. The limb of the calyx is deciduous, and is 

 usually 5-cleft, but sometimes only 4-cleft; the segments rather acute, 

 and erect. Petals very small, broadly ovate and emarginate, partly 

 embracing the stamens. Style short, 3-cleft. Drupe nearly one-third 

 of an inch in diameter, blackish -purple ; the pulp thin : pyrenae two, 

 plano-convex. 



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