Glossy Buckthorn leaves & fruit
Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) is also called (Rhamnus frangula). It is a shrub or small tree and aggressively invades wetlands. Shiny, dark green, untoothed, alternate leaves with 7 to 9 pairs of inset veins are characteristics of this species. Its fruit is black when ripe.
L-Glossy Buckthorn bark R-Choke Cherry bark
Glossy buckthorn bark is similar to young cherry bark with white lenticels. Most of the time Glossy Buckthorn lenticels are almost round. Cherry lenticels are long lines parallel to the ground. The inner bark on Glossy Buckthorn is orange, on cherries it is reddish to dark brown. Glossy Buckthorn’s buds are rust-colored and naked. They are covered by leaf remnants. The slender twigs are tipped with velvet-like hairs. Twigs never have a thorn at their tips or toothed leaves which are characteristics of Common Buckthorn.
Glossy Buckthorn twig showing fine hairs
Glossy Buckthorn can rapidly invade a fen or wetlands. Seedlings often cover the ground. As with many invasive species Glossy Buckthorn leafs out early and stays green late in the fall. I have seen fruiting plants only .6m (2 feet) tall. It will fruit in its second year if conditions are good. The species is now found throughout Michigan and steps to eradicate it should be taken wherever it is found.
Glossy Buckthorn seedlings covering the ground
Copyright 2015 by Donald Drife
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Thanks for sharing this. While I am totally familiar with the Common Buckthorn, I have not been as aware of this one. I will now be on the lookout for it on my property, some of which is wet.