Rhamnus alaternus L.

Family: RHAMNACEAE

Genus: Rhamnus

Catalan common name: Aladern. Lladern. Llampedrell. Llampuga. Llampúgol.

Spanish common name: Aladierno. Coscollino.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Medicinal.

Plants protected by law: Balearic Catalogue.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte. Phanerophyte.

Habitats: Oakforest. Hedges. Garden plants. Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Tree heather maquis and silicolous garigues. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Garriques and forests.

Characteristics: This bush can eventually grow into a small tree; shiny oval leaves with small teeth along the margin. At an unfocused glance, one can mistake it for a holm oak or a Phillyrea, to remove doubts, examine the leaf against the light and you can see that the margin has a tiny translucent line. To distinguish it from Rhamnus ludovici- salvatoris, we have to examine the margin teeth to see if they are directed upwards, as for this latter species, these teeth are perpendicular to the margin. Flowering at the beginning of the spring.