Landscape Plants

Some 150 species of deciduous, sometimes evergreen, trees and shrubs, often with thorny twigs.  Leaves alternate, opposite or spirally arranged, parallel veins, serrate or entire margins.  Flowers small, 4 or 5 parted, unisexual or bisexual, style simple with 3-lobed stigma.  Fruit a globose drupe.  Native to northern temperate areas, plus east and southern Africa and Brazil.
Rhamnus: from the Greek name Rhamnos of a shrub in the genus.