Frangula californica (Eschsch.) A. Gray, Rhamnaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 5 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Rhamnus californica Eschsch.; Rhamnus frangula L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: California buckthorn, California coffeeberry, buckthorn

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Shrub less than 5 m.  Stem: bark bright gray or brown; twigs glabrous to finely hairy; terminal bud not covered with scales.  Leaves evergreen; petiole 3-10 mm; blade 20-80 mm, ovate to elliptic, thick, base acute to rounded, tip acute, rounded, or truncate, margin serrate to entire, sometimes rolled under, both surfaces more or less glabrous.  Inflorescence 5-60-flowered, pedicels less than 20 mm.  Flower bisexual; hypanthium 1-2 mm; sepals 5, petals 5; style included.  Fruit 10-15 mm, black"  (Hickman, 1993).

Habitat/ecology:  In California (US), coastal-sage scrub, chaparral, woodlands, forests at elevations less than 2300 m (Hickman, 1993).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Western United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon) and Baja Norte, Mexico; also cultivated (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, W. L./Herbst, D. R./Lorence, D. H. (2013)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 81758) Taxon name on voucher: Rhamnus californica var. californica

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Baja Norte
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico

Control:  If you know of control methods for Frangula californica, please let us know.