glossy buckthorn |
Plants: Hardwood Trees |
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Magnoliopsida > Rhamnales > Rhamnaceae > Frangula alnus P. Mill.
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| Synonym(s): alder buckthorn |
| Glossy buckthorn is a large shrub or small tree that can grow to heights of 30 ft. (9.1 m). The dark green leaves are shiny, alternate (sometime opposite) and simple with prominent venation. The flowers are inconspicuous, pale yellow in color and occur in clusters in the leaf axis. Flowering occurs in the spring. The fleshy fruit ripens to a dark purple color. The bark is gray to brown with white lenticels. It invades moist woodlands and disturbed areas throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Its rapid growth and prolific seed production make this plant an aggressive invader that can form dense thickets which shade and displace native understory plants, shrubs, and tree seedlings. Glossy buckthorn is native to Europe and was first introduced into the United States in the mid 1800s as an ornamental. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 1379048 |
Diagram or Graphic |
1. Flowering branchlet. - 2. Mature shoot with fruits in different ripening stages. - 3. Seedling with first ordinary leaves (germination is hypogeous). - 4. Stone viewed from different aspects. - 5. Winter-branchlet. Naked buds on spurs arranged in helical order. After Hempel & Wilhelm, 1889. Photos and explanations from the book: Zelimir Borzan. "Tree and Shrub Names in Latin, Croatian, English, and German, with synonyms", University of Zagreb, 2001. |
Zelimir Borzan |
| 5308072 |
Diagram or Graphic |
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 504. |
USDA PLANTS Database |
| 5392503 |
Flower(s) |
Flowers |
John M. Randall |
| 5274031 |
Flower(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5274028 |
Foliage |
Close-up of flowers and fruits |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5274029 |
Foliage |
Close-up of pinnately veined leaves |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 1539070 |
Foliage |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5379532 |
Foliage |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5395927 |
Foliage |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396524 |
Foliage |
sprout; fruit |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396526 |
Foliage |
sprout; fruit |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5392508 |
Fruit(s) |
...and more fruit |
John M. Randall |
| 5396525 |
Fruit(s) |
sprout; foliage |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5379534 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Steve Manning |
| 5379535 |
Fruit(s) |
November |
Steve Manning |
| 5392504 |
Fruit(s) |
Fruit... |
John M. Randall |
| 5235023 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 1539069 |
Fruit(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 1261060 |
Fruit(s) |
Grows in fertile broadleaved forest. Flowers May to June. Fruits from July. Poland |
Gil Wojciech |
| 1261157 |
Fruit(s) |
Poland |
Gil Wojciech |
| 5274030 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5274033 |
Infestation |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5392506 |
Infestation |
Encroaching |
John M. Randall |
| 5379536 |
Plant(s) |
September |
James H. Miller |
| 5379537 |
Plant(s) |
September |
James H. Miller |
| 5392502 |
Plant(s) |
Plant |
John M. Randall |
| 5396125 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396384 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396385 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396386 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396387 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396388 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396522 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396523 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5274034 |
Plant(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5274032 |
Plant(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5235022 |
Plant(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 5274035 |
Root(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5307046 |
Seed(s) |
|
Steve Hurst |
| 5307047 |
Seed(s) |
|
Steve Hurst |
| 5392507 |
Seedling(s) |
Seedlings & |
John M. Randall |
| 1539071 |
Stem(s) |
|
James H. Miller |
| 5392505 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
Twigs |
John M. Randall |
|
