Rhamnus alnifolia
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae}}
{{Redirect-synonym|Alder buckthorn|Rhamnus frangula}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Rhamnus alnifolia NRCS-1.jpg
|genus = Rhamnus
|species = alnifolia
|authority = L'Hér.
|synonyms =
{{Collapsible list
|Apetlothamnus alnifolia (L'Hér.) Nieuwl.
|Endotropis alnifolia (L'Hér.)
|Girtanneria alnifolia (L'Hér.) Raf.
|Ventia alnifolia (L'Hér.)
|Frangula americana Mill.
|Girtanneria franguloides (Michx.) Raf.
|Rhamnus alnifolia f. angustifolia D.Löve & J.-P.Bernard
|Rhamnus alpina Richardson
|Rhamnus franguloides Michx.
}}
}}
Rhamnus alnifolia is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family known by the common names alderleaf buckthorn,{{PLANTS|id=RHAL|taxon=Rhamnus alnifolia|accessdate=20 October 2015}} or alder buckthorn. Unlike other "buckthorns", this alder buckthorn does not have thorns.Catling, P.M., and Z.S. Porebski. 1994. The history of invasion and current status of glossy buckthorn, Rhamnus frangula, in Southern Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 108:305–310 It is native to North America, and can be found in forested habitat.
Description
Rhamnus alnifolia is a spreading shrub usually {{convert|0.5 to 1.5|m|in|abbr=off}} tall,{{eFloras|1|250101340|Rhamnus alnifolia |family=Rhamnaceae |last=Nesom |first=Guy L.}} rarely to {{convert|2|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}}, its thin branches bearing deciduous leaves.{{Jepson eFlora|41067|Rhamnus alnifolia}} The thin, deeply veined leaves have oval blades {{convert|4.5|to|11|cm|frac=8}} long, pointed at the tip and lightly toothed along the edges. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or umbel of up to three flowers occurring in leaf axils. The tiny flowers are about {{convert|1|mm|2|frac=16}} wide and have five green sepals but no petals.{{Minnesota Wildflowers|shrub/alder-leaved-buckthorn|Rhamnus alnifolia (Alder-leaved Buckthorn)}} Female flowers produce drupes {{cvt|6|to|8|mm|frac=16|2}} wide, each containing three seeds. The drupes darken to black when ripe.
Distribution and habitat
It can be found in the southern half of Canada and the northern half of the United States,{{BONAP|genus=Rhamnus|species=alnifolia}}{{BONAP|genus=Rhamnus|species=alnifolia|state=1}} mostly in the Pacific Northwest. It grows in streambanks and on humid flats near mountains.{{Cite book |last1=Turner |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VLbAAwAAQBAJ |title=Trees & Shrubs of the Pacific Northwest |last2=Kuhlmann |first2=Ellen |date=2014 |publisher=Timber Press |isbn=978-1-60469-263-1 |edition=1st |location=Portland, OR |pages=233}}
Uses
The berry is inedible. Native Americans used the species as a laxative.{{Cite book |last1=Arno |first1=Stephen F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qDD4DwAAQBAJ |title=Northwest Trees: Identifying & Understanding the Region's Native Trees |last2=Hammerly |first2=Ramona P. |publisher=Mountaineers Books |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-68051-329-5 |edition=field guide |location=Seattle |pages=266 |language=en |oclc=1141235469 |orig-date=1977}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{CalPhotos|Rhamnus|alnifolia}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q7320172}}
Category:Flora of the Northern United States
Category:Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America)
Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States
Category:Flora of the Appalachian Mountains
Category:Flora of the Rocky Mountains
Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States
Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Rhamnaceae-stub}}