Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Rhamnus alnifolia
alder-leaf buckthorn
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in northeastern Washington; British Columbia to California, east across Canada and the northern half of the U.S. to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Moist ground, expecially along streams, at moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains.

Flowers: June-July

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies, wasps, beetles

Description:
General:

Deciduous, dioecious shrub 0.5-1.5 m. tall, erect to rounded.

Leaves:

Leaves alternate, the blades thin, 6-11 cm. long, oblong-ovate to oblong-elliptic, closely glandular-serrulate, the main lateral veins 5-7; stipules oblong, 3-6 mm. long.

Flowers:

Flowers 2-4 in axillary, sessile umbels, developing with the leaves, about 5 mm. broad; both staminate and pistillate flowers have vestiges of the other essential organs; calyx shallowly bell-shaped, 5-lobed; petals lacking.

Fruits:

Berry 6-8 mm. long, bluish-black, 3-seeded.

Accepted Name:
Rhamnus alnifolia L'Hér.
Publication: Sert. Angl. 5. 1788.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
(none provided)
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Rhamnus alnifolia in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Rhamnus alnifolia checklist entry

OregonFlora: Rhamnus alnifolia information

E-Flora BC: Rhamnus alnifolia atlas page

CalPhotos: Rhamnus alnifolia photos

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