Rhamnus caroliniana
Similar to Rhamnus cathartica L.
Carolina buckthorn
A small tree common in Middle and East Tennessee, the elliptic leaves of Carolina buckthorn alternate on the stems, and flowers are 5-petaled. Fruits mature from red to black. Twigs do not produce thorns at the tips, and the plant is very drought tolerant. Native shrub, R. lanceolata (lanceleaf buckthorn) is found mostly in the Central Basin with 4-petaled flowers and narrowly lanceolate, alternate leaves. State listed as Endangered, R. alnifolia (alderleaf buckthorn) is a low shrub under 1 meter found in calcareous seeps within two counties in the northern Valley and Ridge.