E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Frangula purshiana DC.
cascara
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Virginia Skilton  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #9313)

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Distribution of Frangula purshiana
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SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC
Frangula purshiana ssp. purshiana

Species Information

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General:
Deciduous shrub or small tree up to 10 m tall with yellow- to brownish hairs, bark silvery-grey.
Leaves:
Alternate, egg-shaped to broadly elliptic, the blades 6-13 cm long, finely toothed with 10-12 conspicuous pairs of parallel veins, the veins short-hairy; stalks 5-23 mm long; stipules lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an axillary, stalked cluster of 8-25 male and/or female flowers; petals 5, greenish, hooded, 3-4 mm long; hypanthium lined with a thin disc; calyces 5-lobed, the lobes triangular, finely hairy.
Fruits:
Berries, 6-10 mm long, black to purplish-black; seeds 3. vol4_6

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Black
Present from Spring to Summer
Source:  The USDA

Habitat / Range

Moist to mesic streambanks, thickets, woodlands and forests in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in SW BC, frequent in SC and SE BC south of 51degreeN; S to ID, MD and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Rhamnus purshiana

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References