| Rhamnus alaternus | |
|---|---|
| Leaves and berries of Rhamnus alaternus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Rhamnus |
| Species: | R. alaternus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhamnus alaternus L. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhamnus alaternus is a species of flowering plant in the buckthorn family known by the common name of Italian Buckthorn or Mediterranean Buckthorn.
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The genus name derives from the Ancient Greek "rabdos", or “stick” with reference to the presence in many species of woody spine on the end of each twig. The specific Latin name alaternus, assonant with "alternus" or “alternate”, refers to the alternate leaves.
Rhamnus alaternus is a evergreen shrub 1–5 metres (3 ft 3 in–16 ft 5 in) high.[1] The stems have reddish bark and pubescent young branches, rounded and compact foliage with alternating leaves, about 2–6 centimetres (0.79–2.4 in) long,[1] 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. Flowering period extends from February to April. Fruits are obovoidal red-brownish drupes of about 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in),[1] containing from 2 to 4 seeds. The drupes darken to black when ripe. Fruits have medicinal properties and can be used with caution as a laxative.
This species is present in most of the the mediterranean countries.
It is widespread in thermophilic evergreen bush and scrubland of the Mediterranean climate regions, from sea level up to 700 m above sea level.[1]