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Purging buckthorn

This tall, spiny shrub is named after the effect the berries have on people - a very strong purgative or laxative!

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Buckthorn
Generic name	Buckthorn
Latin name	Rhamnus cathartica
Family name	Buckthorn
Latin family name	Rhamnaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	10-12m

Leaf

Description	Dark green, with curving veins and finely toothed on the edges
Shape	Oval
Size	Around 6cm long
Colour	Green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Yellow
Leaf bud	Conical in shape and black-brown. Usuallly in opposite pairs
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Opposite

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Fruit colour	Black
Type of seed body	Berry

Bark and twig

Bark description	Dark-brown in colour with shaggy scales
Twig Description	Slender, straight with spines on the side shoots. Grey-brown in colour

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Spindle- but this has longer narrower leaves and the berries are orange

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	England and Wales
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Found on calcareous soils and is common in scrub and woodland
What is its British conservation status?	Frequent

Additional information

Is any part of the tree poisonous?	The berries are a strong laxative (purgative) and can also irritate the skin. The bark is also a skin irritant
Human uses of tree and timber	Purging buckthorn has has two main uses over the centuries. The first as its name suggests is as a purgative which it was thought would help clear out diseases and illnesses. The second is as a yellow dye which can be made from the fruits or bark.

Purging Buckthorn leaves and fruit

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust