In just a few weeks Mediterranean Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) did change from winter bleakness to spring joyfulness.
Its persistent leaves that had turned reddish to cope with frosty mornings are now green. Surely, the exceptional amount of warmth and sunshine of this February did help.
Mediterranean Buckthorn grows on dry limestone soil and it squarely prefers slopes. It is a bush from some decimetres to several metres high. Its light grey branches with smooth bark carry leaves only at their tips.
It already begins to flower, with clusters of five-pointed flowers without petals.
This plant is male, you can see the stamina with their light yellow pollen coming out of the flowers.