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Sideroxylon L. (Sapotaceae)

A genus of about seventy-five species of trees and shrubs; Old and New World tropics.

Two native species occur in North Carolina, both may reach the size of small trees.

Key to Sideroxylon in North Carolina

1. First-year twigs pubescent when young, soon becoming glabrous or nearly so; mature leaves glabrous or glabrate; leaf blades (3) 8-12 (-15) x 1.3-5 cm; pedicels and sepals glabrous; berries 9-16 mm long...S. lycioides (Buckthorn bumelia)

1. First-year twigs persistently pubescent; mature leaves densely pubescent beneath, the hairs sericeous, matted and shiny; leaves 2-5 (-7) x 0.6-2.2 cm; pedicels and sepals tawny/reddish-brown pubescent; berries 8-13 mm long...S. tenax (Tough buckthorn)