Family: Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae)
Native Range: Asia, Europe, North Africa
Glossy buckthorn is a tall shrub or small tree reaching 20-25 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter. Most often it grows in a large shrub growth form, having a few to several stems from the base. The shrub has spreading, loosely-branched crowns. The leaves are thin, glossy, and ovate or elliptic. The upper leaf surface is shiny; the lower surface can be hairy or smooth and their margins are entire (not toothed). The bark is gray to brown with prominent, often elongate, lighter-colored lenticels.
In winter glossy buckthorn has naked, hairy terminal buds and gracefully curving or arched twigs with closely-spaced, prominent leaf scars that give the twigs a warty or bumpy silhouette. When cut, the inner bark is yellow and the heartwood is pink to orange.
Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) is a small native shrub less than 3 feet in height with twigs that are hairless and dark scales on the buds in winter. It usually occurs in wetlands.
Glossy buckthorn’s rapid growth rate can cause habitat degradation, shade out rare species, and decrease the diversity of native species.
Glossy buckthorn aggressively invades oak forests, savannas, prairies and riparian woods, completely eliminating native plant diversity in the understory over time. It thrives particularly on well-drained soils. Plants leaf-out early and retain leaves late into the fall creating dense shade.
Distribution and Background
Glossy buckthorn was introduced to North America as an ornamental, and planted in hedgerows in Wisconsin as early as 1849. It has become naturalized from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan, south to Missouri, and east to New England. Although its aggressively invasive growth patterns have created problems in many areas, glossy buckthorn is still legally sold and planted as ornamentals, although it is banned from sale or propagation in Massachusetts.
Glossy buckthorn is an aggressive invader of wet soils. It has become a problem in wetlands as varied as acidic bogs, calcareous fens, and sedge meadows. It is capable of growing both in full sun and in heavily shaded habitats. The species is not confined to wetlands, however, and grows well in a wide variety of upland habitats, including woodlands, old fields, and roadsides. Glossy buckthorn is adversely affected by nutrient-poor soils.
Alternative Plants (Alternative native Species)
Many attractive native shrubs are available that make great substitutes for glossy buckthorn. A few examples include:
- Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
- Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
- American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
- Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum recognitum or V. dentatum)
Biology and Spread
The first few individuals established in a natural area usually sprout from seeds transported by birds. Once seed is produced, the glossy buckthorn can rapidly form dense thickets.
Glossy buckthorn thrives in habitats ranging from full sun to shaded understory. Once established, it can spread very aggressively. The plant casts a dense shade as it matures into a tall shrub. This shading has a particularly destructive effect on herbaceous and low shrub communities, and may prevent the establishments of tree seedlings.
Manual, mechanical and chemical means are effective in controlling glossy buckthorn.
For disposal options, refer to the control methods and disposal options page.
Glossy buckthorn is most effectively controlled by recognizing its appearance early and removing isolated plants before they begin to produce seed. With large infestations, remove the largest seed-producing plants first.
At this time no means of biological control is available for controlling glossy buckthorn.
Manual and Mechanical
Hand pulling is effective in small infestations. Remove the entire root section or resprouting will occur. Weed wrenches can be very effective in uprooting buckthorn.
The type of herbicide determines the best time of year to apply. Triclopyr herbicides are much more effective early in the growing season. Glossy buckthorn retains its leaves late into the fall, so you can apply a glyphosate herbicide to fairly late in the season. However, the application should not be too late or the leaves will no longer be photosynthetically active (or minimally so) and will easily fall from the twigs.
During the growing season, cut the stems near ground level and apply a 20%-25% glyphosate mixture to the stumps. Resprouts should be cut and treated again, or sprayed with a hand sprayer of 1.5%.
Foliar applications over non-water sites can also use 2% triclopyr solution or 2 oz. Escort® and surfactant mix. Foliar application of herbicides using a backpack sprayer is effective, but less selective.
Caution: Any activities in wetlands (from removing invasives by hand or by applying herbicides) may require a special permit under the Wetlands Protection Act and/or your local bylaws. Be sure to contact your local Conservation Commission before you act.
Notice: Mention Of Pesticide Products On This Web Site Does Not Constitute Endorsement Of Any Material.
For more information on invasive species in Massachusetts, refer to the Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List at https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-prohibited-plant-list.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, http://dnr.wi.gov/files/pdf/pubs/fr/fr0216.pdf
Mti wa Buckthorn (Rhamnaceae) ni mti wa kipekee wa kipekee, unaoweza kufikia urefu wa mita 20 na mduara wa inchi 10. Mara nyingi hukua katika aina kubwa ya kichaka, ikiwa na shina chache hadi kadhaa kutoka msingi. Mti huo una matawi yenye matawi mengi. Majani yake ni nyembamba, yenye kung'aa, na yana umbo la yai au la mviringo. Sehemu ya juu ya jani ni nyangavu; sehemu ya chini inaweza kuwa na nywele au laini na kingo zao ni nzima (si toothed). Jani ni kijivu hadi kahawia na lenticels maarufu, mara nyingi elongate, rangi nyepesi. Katika majira ya baridi kali, buckthorn yenye kung'aa ina matawi ya mwisho yenye nywele na matawi yenye umbo la mviringo au yenye umbo la upinde yenye makovu yaliyo karibu, ambayo huwapa matawi hayo umbo la kiwiko au lenye miiba. Wakati ukikatwa, ganda la ndani ni la manjano na kiini cha mbao ni cha rangi ya waridi hadi ya machungwa. Alder buckthorn (Rhamnus alnifolia) ni kichaka kidogo cha asili chini ya mita 3 kwa urefu na matawi ambayo ni hairless na magamba nyeusi juu ya buds katika majira ya baridi. Kwa kawaida hutokea katika maeneo yenye unyevunyevu. Kiwango cha haraka cha ukuaji wa buckthorn yenye kung'aa chaweza kusababisha uharibifu wa makao, kuondoa spishi nadra, na kupunguza utofauti wa spishi za asili. Mti wa buckthorn unaovutia huvamia misitu ya mwaloni, savannah, nyanda na misitu ya kando ya mto, na kuondoa kabisa utofauti wa mimea ya asili katika mimea ya chini ya mto. Mti huo hufanikiwa hasa kwenye udongo wenye maji mengi. Mimea huchapisha majani mapema na kuhifadhi majani mwishoni mwa vuli na kutokeza kivuli kirefu. Mti wa buckthorn ulianza kutumiwa katika Amerika ya Kaskazini kama mimea ya mapambo na kupandwa katika misitu ya Wisconsin mnamo 1849. Imeenea kutoka Nova Scotia hadi Saskatchewan, kusini hadi Missouri, na mashariki hadi New England. Ingawa mifumo yake ya ukuaji wa uvamizi imesababisha matatizo katika maeneo mengi, buckthorn glossy bado inauzwa kisheria na kupandwa kama mapambo, ingawa imepigwa marufuku kutoka kwa uuzaji au kuenezwa huko Massachusetts. Mti wa buckthorn wenye kung'aa huvamia udongo wenye unyevunyevu. Imekuwa tatizo katika maeneo yenye unyevunyevu mbalimbali kama vile mabwawa yenye asidi, mabwawa yenye chokaa, na nyasi zenye miiba. Inaweza kukua katika jua kamili na katika maeneo yenye kivuli kikubwa. Hata hivyo, spishi hiyo haipatikani tu katika maeneo yenye unyevunyevu, na hukua vizuri katika maeneo mbalimbali ya milimani, kutia ndani misitu, mashamba ya zamani, na kando ya barabara. Mti wa buckthorn wenye kung'aa huathiriwa vibaya na udongo usio na virutubisho. Mimea mbadala (Aspesies mbadala ya asili) Miti mingi ya asili yenye kuvutia inapatikana ambayo hufanya mbadala mzuri wa buckthorn yenye kung'aa. Mti wa Black Chalk (Aronia melanocarpii) na Mti wa Grey Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) na Mti wa Wanyama wa Amerika (Sambucus canadensis) na Mti wa Arrowwood (Viburnum lentatum) ni aina ya mimea inayopatikana katika maeneo ya asili. Mara tu mbegu inapozalishwa, mti huo wenye kung'aa unaweza kuunda vichaka vikubwa upesi. Mti wa buckthorn wenye kung'aa hufanikiwa katika maeneo yenye jua kamili hadi kwenye maeneo yenye kivuli. Mara tu inapokuwa imeanzishwa, inaweza kuenea kwa nguvu sana. Mti huo hutoa kivuli kirefu unapoendelea kukua na kuwa kichaka kirefu. Unyama huu una athari mbaya sana kwa jamii za mimea na vichaka vya chini, na inaweza kuzuia kuanzishwa kwa miche ya miti. Njia za mikono, za mitambo, na za kemikali zina matokeo katika kudhibiti buckthorn yenye kung'aa. Kwa chaguzi za kuondoa, tazama ukurasa wa mbinu za kudhibiti na chaguzi za kuondoa. Mti huo unadhibitiwa kwa njia yenye matokeo zaidi kwa kutambua mapema jinsi unavyoonekana na kuondoa mimea iliyojitenga kabla ya kuanza kuzaa mbegu. Kwa vifo vikubwa, ondoa mimea mikubwa zaidi inayozalisha mbegu kwanza. Kwa sasa hakuna njia ya kudhibiti kiikolojia inayopatikana kwa kudhibiti buckthorn yenye kung'aa. Manual na Mechanical Hand kuvuta ni ufanisi katika infestations ndogo. Ondoa sehemu nzima ya mizizi au kutapika upya kutatokea. Vifaa vya kuondoa magugu vinaweza kutumiwa kwa ufanisi sana kuondoa mwaloni. Aina ya dawa ya kuua magugu huamua wakati bora zaidi wa mwaka wa kuitumia. Dawa za kuua magugu za triclopyr hufaulu zaidi mapema katika msimu wa ukuzi. Mti wa buckthorn unaoonekana kuwa na majani ya majani huhifadhiwa hadi majira ya kupukutika kwa majani, kwa hivyo unaweza kutumia dawa ya kuua magugu ya glyphosate hadi mwishoni mwa msimu. Hata hivyo, matumizi haipaswi kuwa marehemu sana au majani itakuwa tena photosynthetically hai (au kidogo hivyo) na itakuwa kwa urahisi kuanguka kutoka matawi. Wakati wa msimu wa kukua, kata shina karibu na kiwango cha ardhi na utumie mchanganyiko wa glyphosate wa 20% -25% kwenye shina. Vipande vya mimea vinavyopandwa lazima vipunguzwe na kutibiwa tena, au kunyunyizia kwa dawa ya mkono ya 1.5%. Kwa ajili ya matumizi ya majani, unaweza kutumia suluhisho la 2% la triclopyr au 2 oz. Escort® na mchanganyiko wa surfactant. Matumizi ya majani ya dawa za kuua magugu kwa kutumia dawa ya kunyunyizia magugu ni yenye matokeo, lakini si ya kuchagua sana. Ulinzi: shughuli yoyote katika maeneo ya mvua (kutoka kuondoa invasifs kwa mkono au kwa kutumia dawa za kuua magugu) inaweza kuhitaji ruhusa maalum chini ya Sheria ya Ulinzi wa maeneo ya mvua na au sheria yako ya ndani. Hakikisha kuwasiliana na Tume ya Uhifadhi ya eneo lako kabla ya kutenda. Taarifa: Kutajwa kwa bidhaa za dawa za kuua wadudu kwenye tovuti hii haimaanishi kuidhinisha nyenzo yoyote. Kwa habari zaidi juu ya spishi za uvamizi huko Massachusetts, tazama Orodha ya Mimea iliyokatazwa ya Massachusetts kwenye https: www.mass.gov.uk Wizara ya Uhifadhi wa Asili ya Wisconsin (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)