Rock Buckthorn

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Rock Buckthorn
Rhamnus saxatilis

Rhamnus saxatilis

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden I
Order : Rose-like (rosales)
Family : Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)
Genre : Buckthorn ( rhamnus )
Type : Rock Buckthorn
Scientific name
Rhamnus saxatilis
Jacq.

The rock buckthorn ( Rhamnus saxatilis ) is a member of the genus buckthorn ( Rhamnus ). It prefers sunny, rocky slopes, which explains its name.

description

The rock buckthorn is a deciduous, low- growing shrub up to 1.5 meters high . The branches are dense and consist of short and long shoots . The long shoots can end in a thorn .

leaves

Rock buckthorn ( Rhamnus saxatilis )
Rock buckthorn from the southeastern Dinarides

The leaf position is opposite to obliquely opposite. The leaves appear in clusters on short shoots . The leaf stalks are up to 1.5 centimeters long, the leaf blades have a length of 0.8 to 3 centimeters and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters. The leaf shape is mostly elongated-elliptical, more rarely rounded, the leaf edge finely serrated. Small stipules are formed that fall off quickly. The winter buds lie on the side of the shoot and are covered with bud scales (tegmental areas).

blossoms

The rock buckthorn flowers inconspicuously in tufted inflorescences made up of a few individual flowers that are formed on the leaf axils. The individual flowers are four-fold, yellowish to greenish and stalked 4 to 7 millimeters long. The flowers can be both hermaphroditic and unisexual. The four linear sepals are yellowish green. There are four, rarely five linear petals formed, which are about the same length as the four to five stamens . The petals are often missing in the female flowers. The ovary is on top. Flowering time is from April to May.

fruit

The fruits are black-blue, round and berry-like stone fruits, which contain three stone cores with one seed each. The pericarp is fleshy.

Chromosome number

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 24.

Distribution and location requirements

Habit on a wind edge in the oromediterranean zone in Orjen, Montenegro approx. 1750 m

The center of the natural range is in southern Central Europe and in Southeastern Europe. The species can be found in the Alps up to 1280 meters above sea level. The southern border of the distribution area lies in central Italy and northern Spain. In the west, Rhamnus saxatilis is also found in south and south-east France. In the east the distribution area extends over large parts of Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, to the north it occurs to southern Germany.

The rock buckthorn prefers sunny, dry and rocky slopes. Partial shade is tolerated, damp locations are avoided. It is often found on alkaline and nitrogen-poor subsoil, it is considered an indicator of limestone soils. In Central Europe it is an Erici-Pinion association character, but also occurs in societies of the order Quercetalia pubesceti-petraeae, Brometalia or the Berberidion association.

Systematics

The rock buckthorn is assigned to the subgenus Eurhamnus .

The following subspecies of the rock buckthorn ( Rhamnus saxatilis Jacq. , Syn .: Rhamnus villarsii Jord. , Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. Villarsii (Jordan) P.Fourn. ) Occur in the Mediterranean area:

  • Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. infectoria (L.) P. Fourn. (Syn .: Rhamnus infectoria L. ), occurs only in Spain, France and Italy (with Sicily).
  • Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. prunifolia (Sm.) Aldén (Syn .: Rhamnus prunifolia Sm. ), occurs only in Greece, in the Aegean Sea and in Croatia.
  • Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. rhodopea (Velen.) Aldén (Syn .: Rhamnus rhodopea Velen. ), occurs only on the Balkan Peninsula, in Asia Minor and in the Aegean Sea.
  • Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. saxatilis
  • Rhamnus saxatilis subsp. tinctoria Nyman , occurs in Switzerland, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Moldova.

use

The rock buckthorn is of no economic importance, no additions are known.

proof

literature

  • Peter Schütt, Horst Weisgerber, Hans J. Schuck, Ulla Lang, Bernd Stimm, Andreas Roloff: Encyclopedia of Bushes . Nikol, Hamburg 2006, ISBN 3-937872-40-X , p. 255-257 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 . Page 652.
  2. ↑ a b c d e T. Henning, E. von Raab-Straube (2016): Rhamnaceae .: Datasheet Rhamnus saxatilis , In: Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity.

Web links

Commons : Rock Buckthorn  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files