The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

evergreen buckthorn, holly leaf redberry, redberry

hairyleaf redberry

Habit Shrubs or small trees, 1–4 m, unarmed. Shrubs, 1–3 m, unarmed.
Branchlets

gray, stiff, glabrous or densely and softly hirtellous.

gray, flexible, sparsely to densely softly hirtellous.

Leaves

persistent, alternate;

petiole 2–10 mm;

blade usually dull green, sometimes reddish brown, abaxially, glossy to dull green adaxially, broadly elliptic to oblong, orbiculate, or ovate, 2–4.5 cm, distinctly coriaceous, base cuneate to nearly truncate, margins spinulose to spinose-dentate, apex rounded or obtuse to truncate or emarginate, both surfaces glabrous;

secondary veins 5–7 pairs, all diverging at nearly same angle.

persistent, alternate;

petiole 2–5 mm;

blade dull green abaxially, darker green adaxially, ovate to broadly oblong or orbiculate, 1.5–2 cm, distinctly coriaceous, base cuneate to nearly truncate, margins spinulose, apex rounded, both surfaces sparsely to densely softly hirtellous;

secondary veins 5–7 pairs, all diverging at nearly same angle.

Inflorescences

fascicles or flowers solitary.

fascicles or flowers solitary.

Pedicels

2–4 mm.

2–4 mm.

Drupes

red, globose, 4–6(–8) mm;

stones 2.

red, globose, 5–6 mm;

stones 2.

Sepals

4.

4.

Petals

0.

usually 0, rarely 4.

2n

= 24.

Rhamnus ilicifolia

Rhamnus pilosa

Phenology Flowering Jan–Jun. Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat Canyon slopes and bottoms, rock faces, open hillsides, sandstone ridges, serpentine slopes, roadsides, stream benches, riparian areas, meadows, coastal sage scrub, chaparral/desert transition, chaparral, woodlands, montane forests. Granitic substrates, clay soils, sandstone, woodlands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub.
Elevation 100–2200(–2400) m. (300–7200(–7900) ft.) 100–1700 m. (300–5600 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; NV; OR; Mexico (Baja California)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
Discussion

Rhamnus pilosa is known only from San Diego County and extreme southwestern Riverside County. The species has been reported from Arizona and Mexico (Baja California) (USDA Plants Database, based on L. Abrams and R. S. Ferris 1923–1960, vol. 2), but no specimens have been found to support this claim.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 12, p. 48. FNA vol. 12, p. 48.
Parent taxa Rhamnaceae > Rhamnus Rhamnaceae > Rhamnus
Sibling taxa
R. alaternus, R. alnifolia, R. arguta, R. cathartica, R. crocea, R. davurica, R. japonica, R. lanceolata, R. pilosa, R. pirifolia, R. serrata, R. smithii, R. utilis
R. alaternus, R. alnifolia, R. arguta, R. cathartica, R. crocea, R. davurica, R. ilicifolia, R. japonica, R. lanceolata, R. pirifolia, R. serrata, R. smithii, R. utilis
Synonyms R. crocea subsp. ilicifolia, R. crocea var. ilicifolia R. crocea var. pilosa, R. crocea subsp. pilosa
Name authority Kellogg: Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 2: 37. (1863) — (as ilicifolius) (Trelease ex Curran) Abrams: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 37: 153. (1910)
Web links