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Botanical Family · Rosales

Rhamnaceae

Buckthorn Family

18 speciesOrder Rosales8+ well-known plants

The Rhamnaceae family (Buckthorn Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Rosales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 18 species across 6 genera. Members range from lianas to climbing shrubs. Well-represented genera include Ziziphus, Ventilago and Gouania. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Tiny-Fruit Chawstick, Umbrella Tree and Cat Thorn.

Browse all 18 species ↓
Representative RHAMNACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Rhamnaceae
Key pattern

Simple leaves, often with three conspicuous veins running from the base, on shrubs, trees, or spiny lianas; small inconspicuous flowers sit on a fleshy disc with each stamen cupped directly opposite a petal rather than alternating with it, ripening into a drupe.

Many species carry sharp thorns modified from stipules or branchlets, and several store anthraquinone laxative compounds in bark and fruit.

Identify the species

Which Rhamnaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Rhamnaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Climbing vine
Shrub
Tree
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Elliptic (widest at middle)
Lanceolate
Ovate (egg-shaped, broad at base)
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Elliptic (widest at middle)
Obovate
Ovate
Ovate (egg-shaped, broad at base)
Leaf ShapeWhat is the overall shape of the leaf blade?
Lanceolate
Ovate
Ovate (egg-shaped, broad at base)
ArmatureDoes the plant have thorns?
Spiny
Unarmed

Typical leaf characters

  • ArrangementVariable
  • TypeVariable
  • MarginVariable
  • VenationVariable

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

Tiny-Fruit ChawstickGouania microcarpaUmbrella TreeMaesopsis eminiiCat ThornScutia myrtinaToothed-Leaf Red CreeperVentilago denticulataRed CreeperVentilago maderaspatanaJujubeZiziphus jujubaCommon Jujube, Indian Jujube, Jujube Tree, Chinese DateZiziphus mauritianaCommon Jujube, Indian Jujube, Jujube Tree, Chinese DateZiziphus mauritiana var. fruticosa

All 18 species in RHAMNACEAE

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