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Key to Rhamnus

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1 Leaves alternate; plant a shrub to 2 (-4) m tall; fruit with 2-3 stones; sepals 4 or 5; petals 4 or 0; [natives of various, calcareous habitats]
1 Leaves opposite (to subopposite; plant a large shrub or small tree, to 10 m tall; fruit with 2-4 stones; sepals 4; petals 4; [exotics, mostly of moist (but not boggy) soils].
  2 Leaf base rounded (to truncate or cordate); leaves mostly 1-2× as long as wide, with (2-) 3 (-4) lateral veins on either side of the midrib; drupe stones 3-4
  2 Leaf base cuneate; leaves mostly 2-4× as long as wide, with (3-) 4-7 (-8) lateral veins on either side of the midrib; drupe stones 2.
    3 Leaf blades widest at or past the midpoint; upper leaf surface hirtellous along main veins (rarely glabrous); abaxial surface glabrous or glabrate; pedicels 3-7 mm long
    3 Leaf blades widest at or below the midpoint; upper leaf surfaces glabrous or sparsely pilose on the veins; pedicels 5-20 mm long.
      4 Leaves with (3) 4-5 (6) lateral veins on either side of the midvein; lower leaf surface with straight, colorless hairs on the veins; pedicels 10-20 mm long
      4 Leaves with (4) 5-7 (8) lateral veins on either side of the midvein; lower leaf surface with wavy or curled, yellow hairs along the veins and in the vein axils; pedicels 5-10 mm long