North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Plant Page | Jeff's Nature Pages


Rhamnaceae > Rhamnus

Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana, Rhamnus caroliniana) Carolina Buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana, Frangula caroliniana)
Orange Co., NC
7/20/2005

This fairly rare species is on the Watch List with the NC Natural Heritage Program. The population where this photo was taken was discovered by Will Cook a few years ago in the Duke Forest.

Recent evidence strongly suggests that the genus Frangula is distinct from Rhamnus.

Carolina Buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana, Frangula caroliniana)
Orange Co., NC
9/18/2010

Ripe fruits are nearly black and enjoyed by birds. Some sources state that the fruits are sweet and edible for people in small quantities while other sources claim the fruits are mildly toxic.

Carolina Buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana, Frangula caroliniana)
Orange Co., NC
9/18/2010

This individual is wilty, suffering from a severe lack of rain in this area.


Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica) Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica)
Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange Co., NC
5 July 2009

This buckthorn is native to east Asia. In the NC piedmont it is rare but has invaded or naturalized in a few places.

Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica) Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica)
Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange Co., NC
5 July 2009

Leaves are bluntly toothed and have 4-6 lateral veins branching from the midvein.

Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica) Dahurian Buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica)
Mason Farm Biological Reserve, Orange Co., NC
5 July 2009


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Common names from personal experience and supplemented by the following resources USDA plants website, Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and NatureServe.


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Created on May 7, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com