Rhamnus cathartica (Common Buckthorn): Difference between revisions

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''Rhamnus cathartica'' also known as Common Buckthorn, Purging buckthorn, European buckthorn, or buckthorn is a plant native to calcareous soils throughout England, into Scandaninavia and across Russia into western Asia, as well as being found as far south as Morocco and Algeria.<ref name="Archie">O. W. Archibold, D. Brooks, L. Delanoy, "An Investigation of the Invasive Shrub European Buckthorn ''Rhamnus cathartica'' L., near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan", ''The Canadian Field-Naturalist''. October 1997. Retrieved 5/16/2022.</ref>
''Rhamnus cathartica'' also known as Common Buckthorn, Purging buckthorn, European buckthorn, or buckthorn is a plant native to calcareous soils throughout England, into Scandaninavia and across Russia into western Asia, as well as being found as far south as Morocco and Algeria.<ref name="Archie">O. W. Archibold, D. Brooks, L. Delanoy, "An Investigation of the Invasive Shrub European Buckthorn ''Rhamnus cathartica'' L., near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan", ''The Canadian Field-Naturalist''. October 1997. Retrieved 5/16/2022.</ref> Buckthorn was introduced to the United States as early as the 1800s as an ornamental shrub by, and is now common across many of the lower 48 states as an invasive species.<ref name="Knight">Kathleen S. Knight, Jessica S. Kurylo, Anton G. Endress, J. Ryan Stewart, Peter B. Reich, "[[Ecology]] and ecosystem impacts of common buckthorn (''Rhamnus cathartica''): a review", ''Biological Invasions (2007) 9:925-937''. 13 February 2007. doi: 10.1007/s10530-007-9091-3. Retrieved 5/16/2022.</ref>




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== Description ==  
== Description ==  
''Rhamnus cathartica'' is a woody plant, which can exhibit the growth form of either a tree or shrub.<ref name="USDA"></ref>  
''Rhamnus cathartica'' is a medium to large sized woody plant..<ref name="Book">George A. Petrides, "The Peterson Field Guide Series: A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs", ''Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company'', 1986. ISBN: 0-395-17579 "</ref> Twigs end in sharp spines, and are usually dark and unlined.<ref name="Book"></ref> Leaves are elliptic, hairless, and finetoothed, usually 1 1/2" to 2".<ref name="Book"></ref> Plant usually flowers from May to June, small, greenish, clustered blooms. Fruits are dark and berrylike.<ref name="Book"></ref>


== Ecology ==
== Ecology ==
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=== Impact as an Invasive Species ===
=== Impact as an Invasive Species ===
[[File:R_Cathartica_EDDS_Map.png|left|500px|thumb|A map of where ''R. cathartica'' has been found in the United States.]]


== Uses ==
== Uses ==

Revision as of 16:24, 16 May 2022

Rhamnus cathartica also known as Common Buckthorn, Purging buckthorn, European buckthorn, or buckthorn is a plant native to calcareous soils throughout England, into Scandaninavia and across Russia into western Asia, as well as being found as far south as Morocco and Algeria.[1] Buckthorn was introduced to the United States as early as the 1800s as an ornamental shrub by, and is now common across many of the lower 48 states as an invasive species.[2]


Scientific Classification
caption
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rhamnales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Rhamnus L
Species: R. cathartica L.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture[3]

Description

Rhamnus cathartica is a medium to large sized woody plant..[4] Twigs end in sharp spines, and are usually dark and unlined.[4] Leaves are elliptic, hairless, and finetoothed, usually 1 1/2" to 2".[4] Plant usually flowers from May to June, small, greenish, clustered blooms. Fruits are dark and berrylike.[4]

Ecology

Allelopathy

Impact as an Invasive Species

A map of where R. cathartica has been found in the United States.

Uses

R. cathartica is a purgative, meaning that it may cause stomach cramps through toxins, especially emodin, present in its berries and shoots.

References

  1. O. W. Archibold, D. Brooks, L. Delanoy, "An Investigation of the Invasive Shrub European Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica L., near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan", The Canadian Field-Naturalist. October 1997. Retrieved 5/16/2022.
  2. Kathleen S. Knight, Jessica S. Kurylo, Anton G. Endress, J. Ryan Stewart, Peter B. Reich, "Ecology and ecosystem impacts of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica): a review", Biological Invasions (2007) 9:925-937. 13 February 2007. doi: 10.1007/s10530-007-9091-3. Retrieved 5/16/2022.
  3. "Rhamnus Cathartica Plant Profile", USDA "USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service", USDA, n.d.. Retrieved 5/16/2022.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 George A. Petrides, "The Peterson Field Guide Series: A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs", Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1986. ISBN: 0-395-17579 "