This often overlooked shrub from northeast Asia has become locally abundant in some rural localities of the Bluegrass region, especially in hills along the lower Kentucky Rv. The first record appears to have been a 1961 coll. by E.T. Browne from Raven Run in FAYE (EKY). It has sometimes been confused with cathartica, and hybrids are suspected in the parks of JEFF. R. davurica differs as follows: leaves including petiole with L/W mostly 2-3 (versus 1-2), with 4-6 lateral veins (versus 2-4), the blades glabrous to pilose (versus glabrous); style divided ⅔ its length into 2 segments (versus ½ its length into 4 segments). Thorns are generally absent, except in juvenile plants and sprouts. The species can also be confused with Frangula caroliniana. Without flowers, Rhamnus in general is distinguished from Frangula as follows (FNA 12; W): winter buds with bud scales, glabrate (versus naked but pubescent); leaves with 2-9 lateral veins on either side of the midvein (versus 6-10), these arching forward (versus nearly straight); twigs often thorny (versus unarmed). R. davurica in particular has similar leaf size and shape to F. caroliniana (both usually somewhat oblong to obovate), but in addition to differences in venation, the margin is consistently crenulate (versus serrulate, crenulate or entire); lower surfaces are glabrous or sparsely pilose on veins (versus largely glabrous or densely pubescent); upper surfaces tend to be more rugulose, less glossy and less deeply bluish green