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
