Flower ID: IMG_1726.JPG-06-04-2019 Flower name (scientific): Rhamnus cathartica Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) RAM-nus kat-AR-tik-uh Flower name (common): Common Buckthorn Family name (common): Buckthorn Family name (scientific): Rhamnaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From classical Latin rhamnus also rhamnos, taken from ancient Greek. Rhamnos was a name used by Pliny, and employed to denote various prickly shrubs. Specific epithet: From the Latin for cleansing, purifying. Refers to the use of the berries as a cathartic. Common name origin: Buckthorn is a combination of buck plus thorn. The spiny branches assumed to resemble antlers. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (0.5 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 4 sepals and 4 insignificant petals. Color: yellow or green Other: flower arrangement, Whorl Plant description: Size: 60 to 240 inches (1.5 to 6.1 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or opposite, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate to elliptic-ovate, sometimes broadly elliptic or nearly orbiculate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced, invasive/Restricted in Wisconsin Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woodlands, fields, thickets, forest edges, riverbanks, floodplains, roadsides, waste areas, vacant lots, sun or shade, moist to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Frangula alnus (Glossy Buckthorn) can be distinguished by leaves that are entire (untoothed) with the upper surfaces glossy and 5-parted flowers, whereas Rhamnus cathartica has leaves that have small rounded teeth with no glossy appearance on the leaves, and 4-parted flowers. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used this plant to treat sore eyes and as a cathartic (Moerman, pp. 469-470, 1998). Latitude: 44.797245 Longitude: -91.503637 Altitude: 256.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Marathon, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waushara, Winnebago) Click here for distribution map In US: (CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Rhamnus cathartica var. cathartica (The other infraspecific is Rhamnus cathartica var. caucasica Kusnezow which has not been recorded from North America.)