Ruscus

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Ruscus
Ruscus aculeatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Ruscaceae Genus: Ruscus L.
Species
See text.

Ruscus is a genus of six species of flowering plants in the family Ruscaceae, formerly classified in the family Liliaceae. The genus is native to western and southern Europe (north to southern England), Macaronesia, northwest Africa, and southwestern Asia east to the Caucasus.

The species are evergreen shrub-like perennial plants, growing to 1 m tall (rarely 1.2 m). They have branched stems, bearing numerous cladodes (flattened, leaf-like stem tissue) 2-18 cm long and 1-8 cm broad. The true leaves are minute, scale-like and non-photosynthetic. The flowers are small, white with a dark violet centre, and situated on the middle of the cladodes. The fruit is a red berry 5-10 mm diameter. Some species are monoecious while others are dioecious.

As well as by seed, the plants also spread by means of underground rhizomes and can colonise extensive patches of ground.

Species

• Ruscus aculeatus (Butcher's broom). Europe, Azores.
• Ruscus colchicus. Caucasus.
• Ruscus hypoglossum. Central and Southeast Europe, Turkey.
• Ruscus hypophyllum. Iberia, northwest Africa.
• Ruscus microglossus. Southern Europe.
• Ruscus streptophyllum. Madeira.

[edit] References

• Flora Europaea: Ruscus