Glossy Buckthorn
Frangula alnus · Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Elliptical to ovate with an acute tip
Margin
Entire or very finely wavy
Arrangement
Alternate to sub-opposite
Venation
Pinnate with characteristically prominent, parallel lateral veins running at regular intervals toward the margin.
Key Features
Glossy green leaves with prominent, straight parallel veins branching from the midrib; alternate leaf arrangement; smooth dark bark with prominent light-colored lenticels; and berries that often ripen at different times, showing mixed colors on the same cluster.
Description
Frangula alnus is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 20 feet tall. It features smooth dark gray bark with light lenticels, small inconspicuous greenish-white flowers that attract pollinators, and small spherical berries that transition from green to red and finally to dark purple-black when ripe.
Habitat
Thrives in moist to wet soils, often found in wetlands, swamps, bogs, and damp woodlands, but highly adaptable and also invades drier upland forests and disturbed areas.
Native Range
Native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. Widely introduced and invasive in North America, particularly the northern United States and Canada.