The Buckthorn Family
What are they?
There are more than 900 species in the Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae) worldwide, but only two are native in the UK, both of which occur in East Anglia. This is a family of woody trees and shrubs with rather small, four- or five-petalled flowers that, in our native species, are followed by black berries. The family includes a few plants of ornamental or economic importance, such as Ceanothus and Ziziphus (the latter providing Jujube berries).
Where are they found?
Our native buckthorns are shrubby plants of woodland edge, scrub and hedgerows.
Identification
As a group, these plants have simple, usually opposite or sub-opposite (alternate in some non-native species) leaves and small, white or geeenish-white flowers. Our native species can be told apart by details of the leaf margins, twigs/buds and of the flowers or fruits when present.
European Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
(Purging Buckthorn) Native. Common and widespread on chalky soils in the west of our region, rare elsewhere and often the result of so-called 'native' plantings in hedgerows outside of its likely natural range. Flowers May to June. A deciduous shrub or small tree, to 8m in height. Leaves ovate, with rounded teeth along the margins. Winter buds with dark, blackish-brown, protective scales.
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Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus
Native. Widespread but generally uncommon on damp, peaty and often acidic soils. Can be locally frequent in the Norfolk Broads and wet fens and woodland elsewhere. Flowers May to June. A deciduous shrub or small tree, to 6m in height. Leaves ovate, with untoothed, smooth margins. Winter buds without protective scales.
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