Rhamnus alaternus is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, known by the common names Italian buckthorn or Mediterranean buckthorn. It is a hardy medium-sized evergreen shrub with fragrant flowers.
The specific Latin name alaternus, is from the Latin word for the plant. Its origin is obscure but is often suggested to be of Etruscan or pre-Indo-European Mediterranean origin.[2]
Descriptionedit
Rhamnus alaternus is an evergreen shrub 1–5 metres (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) high.[3] The stems have reddish bark and pubescent young branches, rounded and compact foliage with alternating leaves, 2–6 centimetres (0.79–2.36 in) long,[3] sometimes nearly opposite, oval or lanceolate, leathery, shiny green, yellowish-green underneath.
The small fragrant flowers are gathered in a short axillary yellow-green raceme. The flowering period extends from February to April. Fruits are obovoidal red-brownish drupes of about 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in),[3] containing from 2 to 4 seeds. The drupes darken to black when ripe.
In Australia, where it was introduced as a garden shrub, it has become a serious invasive woody weed in many areas, especially coastal parts of SE Australia. Here it displaces native shrubs of similar size such as the sea box, Alyxia buxifolia (an endemic plant which had an important medicinal role for aboriginal people). It prevents subshrubs and herbaceous ground cover native plants from surviving due the heavy shade and competition for moisture and nutrients. It can form dense thickets with very low biodiversity.[5]
^Stephan, J. & Rivers, M.C. (2018). "Rhamnus alaternus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T19180829A122959816. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T19180829A122959816.en. Retrieved 9 May 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Walde, Alois; Hofmann, Johann Baptist (1938). Lateinisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch. Heidelberg: Carl Winter.
^ abcdPignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. II, pag. 78
^"Rhamnus alaternus" (PDF). Flora Iberica. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
^"Rhamnus alaternus". Weeds of Australia. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
^"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 84. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia - Edagricole – 1982 Vol. II, pg. 78
Plants.USDA
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External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhamnus alaternus.
Acta Plantarum
Schede di Botanica
January 01, 1970
rhamnus, alaternus, species, flowering, plant, buckthorn, family, rhamnaceae, known, common, names, italian, buckthorn, mediterranean, buckthorn, hardy, medium, sized, evergreen, shrub, with, fragrant, flowers, mediterranean, buckthorn, flowering, fruiting, sp. Rhamnus alaternus is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae known by the common names Italian buckthorn or Mediterranean buckthorn It is a hardy medium sized evergreen shrub with fragrant flowers Mediterranean buckthorn Flowering and fruiting sprigs with foliage Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Rosids Order Rosales Family Rhamnaceae Genus Rhamnus Species R alaternus Binomial name Rhamnus alaternusL Synonyms Rhamnus clusii Willd Rhamnus myrtifolia Willk Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Invasiveness 5 Cultivation 6 Subspecies 7 Gallery 8 References 9 External linksEtymology editThe specific Latin name alaternus is from the Latin word for the plant Its origin is obscure but is often suggested to be of Etruscan or pre Indo European Mediterranean origin 2 Description editRhamnus alaternus is an evergreen shrub 1 5 metres 3 ft 3 in 16 ft 5 in high 3 The stems have reddish bark and pubescent young branches rounded and compact foliage with alternating leaves 2 6 centimetres 0 79 2 36 in long 3 sometimes nearly opposite oval or lanceolate leathery shiny green yellowish green underneath The small fragrant flowers are gathered in a short axillary yellow green raceme The flowering period extends from February to April Fruits are obovoidal red brownish drupes of about 3 4 millimetres 0 12 0 16 in 3 containing from 2 to 4 seeds The drupes darken to black when ripe Distribution and habitat editThis species is widespread in thermophilic evergreen bush and scrubland of the Mediterranean climate regions from Gran Canaria Morocco and Portugal in the west to the Levant in the east from sea level up to 1 300 m 4 300 ft altitude 3 4 Invasiveness editIn Australia where it was introduced as a garden shrub it has become a serious invasive woody weed in many areas especially coastal parts of SE Australia Here it displaces native shrubs of similar size such as the sea box Alyxia buxifolia an endemic plant which had an important medicinal role for aboriginal people It prevents subshrubs and herbaceous ground cover native plants from surviving due the heavy shade and competition for moisture and nutrients It can form dense thickets with very low biodiversity 5 Cultivation editThis species is cultivated as an ornamental garden shrub valued for its glossy evergreen leaves and red berries The variegated cultivar Argenteovariegata 6 has gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 7 Subspecies editRhamnus alaternus subsp alaternus Rhamnus alaternus subsp myrtifolia Willk Maire Rhamnus alaternus subsp pendula Pamp JafriGallery edit nbsp Habit in Mallorca nbsp Habit in France nbsp Male flowers South Africa nbsp Foliage and fruit ItalyReferences edit Stephan J amp Rivers M C 2018 Rhamnus alaternus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T19180829A122959816 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T19180829A122959816 en Retrieved 9 May 2021 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Walde Alois Hofmann Johann Baptist 1938 Lateinisches Etymologisches Worterbuch Heidelberg Carl Winter a b c d Pignatti S Flora d Italia Edagricole 1982 Vol II pag 78 Rhamnus alaternus PDF Flora Iberica Retrieved 9 May 2021 Rhamnus alaternus Weeds of Australia Queensland Government Retrieved 25 February 2021 RHS Plant Selector Rhamnus alaternus Argenteovariegata Retrieved 17 February 2021 AGM Plants Ornamental PDF Royal Horticultural Society July 2017 p 84 Retrieved 23 September 2018 Pignatti S Flora d Italia Edagricole 1982 Vol II pg 78 Plants USDA BiolibExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhamnus alaternus Acta Plantarum Schede di Botanica Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhamnus alaternus amp oldid 1098998485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
