Frangula purshiana

(de Candolle) A. Gray ex J. G. Cooper

Trans. Amer. Med. Assoc. 10: 228. 1857.

Common names: Cascara
Endemic
Basionym: Rhamnus purshiana de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 2: 25. 1825
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 57. Mentioned on page 43, 52, 53, 58.

Shrubs or trees, 1–12 m. Stems red to brown, gray, or green, glabrous or densely hairy. Leaves deciduous or semideciduous, alternate; petiole 6–23 mm; blade usually pale green abaxially, green to bluish or greenish gray adaxially, not glaucous or glaucous when fresh, elliptic to oblong or oblong-obovate, (3.5–)5–15 cm, herbaceous or distinctly coriaceous, base rounded to subcordate, obtuse, or cuneate, margins entire, irregularly toothed, or serrulate, apex obtuse or truncate, both surfaces glabrous or sparsely to densely hairy, or adaxial velvety; secondary veins 9–11 pairs. Inflorescences umbels, pedunculate, 10–25-flowered. Pedicels 5–15 mm. Stigmas 2–3-lobed. Drupes black, globose to depressed-globose, 5–10 mm; stones 3.

Distribution

V12 467-distribution-map.jpg

B.C., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Subspecies 3 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaf blades distinctly coriaceous, glaucous adaxially when fresh, surfaces papillate. Frangula purshiana subsp. ultramafica
1 Leaf blades herbaceous, not glaucous adaxially when fresh, surfaces not papillate. > 2
2 Leaf blade bases usually rounded to subcordate. Frangula purshiana subsp. purshiana
2 Leaf blade bases usually cuneate. Frangula purshiana subsp. anonifolia