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The Rhamnaceae is a large and widespread family of temperate and tropical woody plants. In western Washington, the Rhamnaceae includes only two genera, Rhamnus and Ceanothus. Neither has really showy flowers, although the small flowers of Ceanothus are somewhat showy in their clusters, and warmer climate species of Ceanothus are valued ornamentals. The flowers in the family are small with a fused calyx with 5 lobes, 5 petals, and 5 or 10 stamens borne on the rim of a shallow disc. The pistil has 2-4 carpels and a superior or partially inferior ovary. One species of Ceanothus is evergreen, another deciduous. Rhamnus is classified as deciduous, but young plants often keep their leaves throughout the winter.

Ceanothus velutinus	Rhamnus purshiana