Buckthorn
Glossy Buckthorn
Frangula alnus Mill.
(formerly Rhamnus frangula L.)
Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn Family)
▲ Cultivated columnar glossy buckthorns
▲ Cultivated open shrub glossy buckthorns
▲ flowers and young fruit
▲ ▼ immature and mature fruit
▲ leaves
▲ stems
▲ ▼ Narrowleaf cultivar ('Asplenifolia') of glossy buckthorn
▲ ▼ 'Asplenifolia' variety leaves
▲ ▼ 'Asplenifolia' cultivar leaves, bark and fruit (above)
Location on or near campus: unknown for glossy buckthorn; narrowleaf glossy buckthorn planted near entrance of Ocean Zen restaurant off south National and Republic Road
Glossy Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula):
- Is also an invasive buckthorn species
- Also grown as an ornamental with open shrub (more seen in wild), upright (fastigiate) growth forms and thread-like leaf leaf forms ('Asplenifolia' cultivar) that can produce invasive seedlings
- Leaves are opposite
- Leaves are glossy/shiny on upper surface and smooth or slightly hairy underneath
- Leaf margins are smooth (no small teeth)
- Has same invasive characteristics and is also listed as a noxious weed in a number of northern states
- Similar European or Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), has leaves that have small teeth on the margins, and the leaves are not as shiny, but more dull-glossy
- Native Carolina Buckthorn, (Frangula caroliniana) has alternate leaves and more pointed leaf tips, and may have small rounded teeth on its leaf margins