Rhamnus alaternus, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1981, Flora Europaea. Volume 2. Rosaceae to Umbelliferae, Cambridge University Press : 244

1. R. alaternus L. , Sp. Pl. 193 (1753) .

Nearly glabrous shrub up to 5 m, very variable in habit. Leaves (1 —)2—6 cm, lanceolate to ovate, acute to obtuse, often mucronate, entire or remotely denticulate, coriaceous; petiole 1-8 mm. Inflorescence dense, more or less pubescent; bracteoles ciliolate, usually caducous. Calyx-lobes lanceolate, acute, yellow; petals absent. Drupe 4-6 mm, not fleshy, obovoid, reddish becoming black; pyrenes 3. Mediterranean region, extending to Portugal. Al BI Co Ga Gr Hs It Ju Lu Sa Si [Rs (K)].

R. myrtifolius Willk. , Linnaea 25: 18 (1852), from Spain, was distinguished on account of its procumbent habit, small, oblong- lanceolate leaves, solitary flowers and smaller drupe. There appears, however, to be intergradation between this and typical R. alaternus .