Frangula californica subsp. cuspidata

(Greene) Kartesz & Gandhi

Phytologia 76: 449. 1994.

Endemic
Basionym: Rhamnus cuspidata Greene Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 1: 64. 1904
Synonyms: Frangula viridula (Jepson) Grubov R. californica subsp. cuspidata (Greene) C. B. Wolf R. californica var. viridula Jepson R. tomentella subsp. cuspidata (Greene) J. O. Sawyer
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 55. Mentioned on page 53, 54, 56.

Leaf-blades green adaxially, elliptic, 2–5 (–6) cm, margins sharply serrate to dentate-serrulate with gland-tipped teeth, sometimes strongly revolute, apex abruptly acuminate to acute, abaxial surface sparsely to moderately densely white stellate-hairy, with intermixed longer, simple, erect hairs at least along veins, adaxial surface glabrous or sparsely hirsutulous; veins not prominent abaxially. Drupe stones 2.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Chaparral, desert scrub, montane woodlands.
Elevation: 400–2300 m.

Discussion

When present, the strongly revolute leaf margins of subsp. cuspidata contrast with those of other taxa of Frangula californica. Plants identifiable as subsp. cuspidata but with flat-margined leaves perhaps show the influence of subsp. tomentella.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
hirsutulous +, glabrous +  and stellate-hairy +
hirsutulous +, glabrate +  and glabrous +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
abruptly acuminate +  and acute +
John O. Sawyer† +  and Guy L. Nesom +
(Greene) Kartesz & Gandhi +
cuneate +  and rounded or subcordate +
Rhamnus cuspidata +
protruding +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
bright green +  and green gray-green yellowish green or yellow abaxially +
3[-5]-veined +  and pinnate +
spinulose +, spinose +, serrate +  and entire +
denticulate +, dentate +, crenulate +, crenate +  and serrulate +
not glaucous +
oblongelliptic;elliptic;oblongelliptic;elliptic;ovate +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
coriaceous +
elongate +  and globose +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
400–2300 m. +
Chaparral, desert scrub, montane woodlands. +
circumscissile +
free +  and adnate +
unisexual +  and bisexual +
5-60-flowered +  and pedunculate +
deciduous +  and persistent +
serrate to dentate-serrulate +
intrastaminal +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
not fleshy +
perigynous +  and epigynous +
adnate +  and distinct +
clawed +, broadly obovate +  and obcordate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
Flowering Apr–Jun. +
2-4-carpellate +
not furrowed +
obovoid +  and lenticular +
yellowish +  and green or white +
distinct +
spreading +  and erect +
keeled;ovate-triangular +
red +  and gray or brown +
hairy +  and glabrous +
2-3-parted +
indehiscent +
2 +  and 3 +
Frangula viridula +, R. californica subsp. cuspidata +, R. californica var. viridula +  and R. tomentella subsp. cuspidata +
Frangula californica subsp. cuspidata +
Frangula californica +
subspecies +
gland-tipped +
deciduous +  and evergreen +
polygamous +, dioecious +  and synoecious +