EPPO Global Database

• EPPO Code: RHASA
• Preferred name: Rhamnus saxatilis
• Authority: Jacquin

Europe (southern) to Germany, Greece and western Black Sea countries (but not Asia or Caucasus). Several subspecies have been described, of which only subsp. tinctoria is at present maintained (in the eastern part of the range). A yellow dye is obtained from the berries, which are marketed as Persian or Avignon berry. It is not altogether clear which species or subspecies provide the dye: as well as subsp. tinctoria, subsp. species saxatilis in the western part of the range may be involved, and also other Rhamnus spp. from western Asia (as evidenced by the name Persian berry and references to Asia as the source of the dye)