Rhamnus cathartica
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| Rhamnus cathartica | ||||||||||||||||
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 Foliage and fruit
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| Rhamnus cathartica L. |
Rhamnus cathartica (Buckthorn, Common Buckthorn or Purging Buckthorn), is a species in the family Rhamnaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia, from the central British Isles south to Morocco, and east to Kyrgyzstan.[1][2]
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 6–8 m tall, with grey-brown bark and spiny branches. The leaves are elliptic to oval, 2.5–9 cm long and 1.2–3.5 cm broad; they are green, turning yellow in autumn, and are arranged somewhat variably in opposite to subopposite pairs or alternately. The flowers are yellowish-green, with four petals; they are dioecious and insect pollinated. The fruit is a globose black drupe 6–10 mm diameter containing two to four seeds; it is mildly poisonous for people, but readily eaten by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.[3][4]
The species was originally named by Linnaeus as Rhamnus catharticus, but this spelling was corrected to cathartica as the genus name Rhamnus is of feminine gender.[5]
[edit] Cultivation and uses
The bark and fruit were used as a purgative in the past, though their potentially dangerous violent action and side effects means they are now rarely used.[6]
The wood is hard and dense, but little-used.
The species is naturalised and sometimes invasive in parts of North America.[2][7]
[edit] References
- ^ Flora Europaea: Rhamnus cathartica
- ^ a b Germplasm Resources Information Network: Rhamnus cathartica
- ^ Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- ^ Flora of NW Europe: Rhamnus cathartica
- ^ Bean, W. J. (1980). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 3. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2427-X.
- ^ Plants for a Future: Rhamnus cathartica
- ^ Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Buckthorn - Invasive Species
