BUCKTHORN
Rhamnus catharticus
Frangula alnus
purging buckthorn
Rhamnus catharticus
Trees
Rhamnus catharticus ( purging buckthorn) and is the larger of the two reaching up to 10m in height. Its new twigs are always at right angles and of two types, long and short. (see folklore) The short twigs produce flowers and fruit with some of the laterals ending in spines. Its oval leaves 3-7cm in size are finely toothed, paired on long twigs and bunched on short twigs. Greenish white flowers are produced on both male and female trees and appear in May. Its black ripened berries appear in September. This tree is the food plant of the brimstone caterpillar.
Frangula alnus( alder buckthorn) rarely exceeds 5m in height and its branches are spineless. Its glossy dark green leaves, obviate, 7cm in size are untoothed turning red in Autumn. Tiny green flowers appear in May and June, turning into yellow berries that ripen red .
Frangula alnus Alder buckthorn
Rhamnus cartharticus - collect fruit from trees in October, two weeks before fully ripe
Frangula alnus- collect fruit from tree in October before turning black.
Purging buckthorn Rhamnus cartharticus
Both seeds require no pretreatment. Remove seed from fruit and stratify, sow in March.
Rhamnus cartharticus- short shoots grow opposite to form a cross, and was thought to protect from evil.