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1 7 ! <br /> J <br /> els <br /> 0414414111 <br /> N - A /.. • / <br /> frr 1 <br /> 4 yw 1,1c1c,triont <br /> - \. <br /> 1. _ ,.�+ ♦9 <br /> , . <br /> :. <br /> „......IFA i <br /> • <br /> ,1 Rhamnus cathartica L. <br /> /.. , . . <br /> DESCRIPTION: Common buckthorn is a <br /> Ishrub or small tree in the buckthorn family <br /> � ai 4' • (Rhamnaceae)that can grow to 22 feet in <br /> height with a 10-inch wide trunk. The crown <br /> shape of mature plants is spreading and irregular. The grey to brown bark is rough <br /> textured when mature and may be confused with that of plum trees. The inner bark is <br /> yellow and the heartwood is pink to orange. Twigs are often tipped with a spine. In <br /> spring, dense clusters of 2 to 6, yellow-green,4-petaled flowers emerge from stems <br /> near the bases of leaf stalks. Small black fruits about 1/4 inch in cross-section and <br /> containing 3-4 seeds, form in the fall. Leaves are broadly oval, rounded or r- b; <br /> pointed at the tip,with 3-4 pairs of up curved veins, and have jagged, <br /> toothed margins. Leaves appear dark, glossy green on the upper surface . .. <br /> and stay green late into fall, after most other deciduous leaves have fallen. =�r" <br /> ECOLOGICAL THREAT: Exotic buckthorns tend to form dense, even-aged thickets, <br /> crowding and shading out native shrubs and herbs, often completely eradicating them. <br /> Dense buckthorn seedlings prevent native tree and shrub regeneration. In fire-adapted <br /> ecosystems such as savannas and prairies, the lack of vegetation under buckthorn <br /> prohibits fires. Buckthorn control is also of interest to small grain producers; the shrub is <br /> an alternate host of the crown rust of oats, which affects oat yield and quality. <br /> .,,,, Vi-owns DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES: Common buckthorn <br /> ik <br /> !"1 ` has become naturalized from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan, south <br /> to Missouri, and east to New England.. , <br /> HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES: Common buckthorn prefers <br /> lightly shaded conditions. An invader mainly of open oak woods, <br /> '' deadfall openings in woodlands, and woods edges, it may also be <br /> found in prairies and open fields. It is tolerant of many soil types, well drained sand, <br /> clay, poorly drained calcareous, neutral or alkaline,wet or dry. <br /> CURRENT MANAGEMENT APPROACHES:This plant is listed as an invasive and <br /> noxious weed by the U. S. federal government. Mechanical, physical and chemical <br /> methods are used to control common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus <br /> frangula), also an invasive exotic plant. Prescribed fire is another method proposed for <br /> controlling buckthorn seedlings in fire-adapted natural areas. Careful application of <br /> herbicides such as, triclopyr herbicide effectively controls common buckthorn. <br /> References: httc://nlants.usda.govl httc://www.nps.aov/plants/alien/ <br />