A monoecious plant, having staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers separate but on the same plant. There are 4 sepals, no petals; 4-5 stamens (male flower) or one pistil (female flower). Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-22-09. © Joan Avise

Holly-leaved Redberry

Rhamnus ilicifolia

A 12 ft. shrub, either tree-like or branching from the base. Common in chaparral especially on shaded slopes and in canyons of Chino Hills, San Joaquin Hills, Santa Ana Mountains and foothills (Roberts).

Rhamnus crocea (Spiny Redberry) is difficult to distinguish from this species, and intermediate forms are common. The two forms are sometimes considered subspecies rather than full species. R. crocea is restricted to the southern San Joaquin Hills, where it is fairly common in maritime chaparral and Diegan coastal sage scrub on Temple and Niguel Hills (Roberts).

Rhamnaceae

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Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-22-09. © Joan Avise

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-22-09. © Joan Avise

Oval to roundish thick alternate leaves, smooth above and sometimes downy on the underside.  Leaves are from 3/4 to 2 in. long and margins may be entire, irregularly toothed or prickly.  Tips may be obtuse, rounded or widely notched.  San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-18-10. © Joan Avise

Passerine birds who eat the fruits digest the fleshy part, then regurgitate the leathery seed capsule.  Upon drying, the capsule bursts open throwing the seed (Clarke). San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 7-18-10. © Joan Avise

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 6-13-09. © Joan Avise