Қарамта тұқымдас өсімдіктер туысы: Рамнус

Genus of flowering plants in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae

Rhamnus is a genus of about 140 accepted species of shrubs or small trees, commonly known as buckthorns, in the family Rhamnaceae. Its species range from tall (rarely to ) and are native mainly in east Asia and North America, but found throughout the temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere, and also more locally in the subtropical Southern Hemisphere in parts of Africa and South America. One species, the common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), is able to flourish as an invasive plant in parts of Canada and the U. S., where it has become naturalized. with deciduous or rarely evergreen foliage. Branches are unarmed or end in a woody spine. The leaf blades are undivided and pinnately veined. Leaf margins are serrate or rarely entire. Rhamnus species are generally dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Most species have yellowish green, small, unisexual or rarely polygamous flowers; which are produced singly or in axillary cymes, cymose racemes, or cymose panicles containing a few flowers. Calyx tube campanulate to cup shaped, with 4 or 5 ovate triangular sepals, which are adaxially ± distinctly keeled. Petals 4 or 5 but a few species may lack petals. The petals are shorter than the sepals. Flowers have 4 or 5 stamens which are surrounded by and equal in length the petals or are shorter. The anthers are dorsifixed. The superior ovary is free, rounded, with 2 4 chambers. Fruits are a 2 4 stoned, berrylike drupe, which is obovoid globose or globose shaped. Seeds are obovoid or oblong obovoid shaped, unfurrowed or abaxially or laterally margined with a long, narrow, furrow. The seeds have fleshy endosperm.

Rhamnus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, with about 140 species which are native from temperate to tropical regions, the majority of species are from east Asia and North America, with a few species in Europe and Africa. Buckthorns may be confused with dogwoods, which share the curved leaf venation; indeed, "dogwood" is a local name for R. prinoides in southern Africa. The two plants are easy to distinguish by slowly pulling a leaf apart; dogwoods will exude thin, white latex strings, while buckthorns will not.

Rhamnus cathartica, the common buckthorn, is considered an invasive species in the United States and by many local jurisdictions and state governments, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. The common buckthorn is well adapted to spreading in Canada and the U. S. It is an efficient grower that does not need much sunlight and or fertile soil. Other species, such as the Rhamnus alaternus also make chemicals that prevent other animals from consuming them.

Some species are invasive outside their natural ranges. R. cathartica was introduced into the United States as a garden shrub and has become an invasive species in many areas there. It is a primary host of the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines), a pest for soybean farmers across the US. The aphids use the buckthorn as a host for the winter and then spread to nearby soybean fields in the spring. Italian buckthorn (R. alaternus), an evergreen species from the Mediterranean region, has become a serious weed in some parts of New Zealand, especially on Hauraki Gulf islands. Buckthorns are used as food plants by the larvae of many Lepidoptera species. The American species are known to be hosts for the oat fungus Puccinia coronata. In a 1930 study, both kerosene and salt were employed for eradication of R. lanceolata and both proved to be less expensive than felling these bushes.

The fruit of most species contain a yellow dye and the seeds are rich in protein. Oils from the seeds are used for making lubricating oil, printing ink, and soap. Another species, Avignon buckthorn (R. saxatilis) provides the yellow dye Persian berry, made from the fruit. Some species may cause demyelinating polyneuropathies. The purging buckthorn (R. cathartica) is a widespread European native species used in the past as a purgative. It was in mid 17th century England the only native purgative. It was also known pre Linnaeus as Spina Cervina. The berries of Spina Cervina are black and contain a greenish juice, along with four seeds apiece; this serves to distinguish them from those of the black alder and dogberry, which contain only one or two apiece. Its syrup is said to be churlish. Its toxicity makes this a very risky herbal medicine, and it is no longer in use. R. prinoides is known as gesho in Ethiopia, where it is used to make a mead called tej. The species Rhamnus alaternus shows some promise for medicinal use as well.