Common Buckthorn Research Paper

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Introduction
This is a discussion about the effects of invasive woody plants, speci غically common buckthorn
( Rhamnus cathartica ) on native species and forest habitat. The impact can be quite severe due to the wide host of conditions under which common buckthorn may grow and thrive, subsequently blocking the regeneration of other vegetation. Further ecological threats include the ability to eliminate competition around the shrub by spouting a proli غic number of dense seedlings directly under the parent plant (Wieseler, 2009). This growth habit is a primary reason the plant was originally introduced to North America; exhibiting a compact structure with many spiny branches, it was widely planted as hedges or fencerows, as well as an ornamental …show more content…

Various control methods are outlined, with an evaluation of their effectiveness. Common buckthorns habit of growing in dense thickets present a signi غicant management challenge in both control and eradication, with adaptations and regeneration strategies in its DNA.
Silvical Characteristics
Rhamnus cathartica is commonly known as common or European buckthorn, European waythorn, and Hart’s thorn (NYIS). Its life form is tree‐shrub. Common buckthorn is native to Europe and the northern and western parts of Asia; it was purposely introduced in the early 1800’s by European settlers as an ornamental hedge and windbreak (Zouhar, 2011). It has since spread throughout the north‐central and northeastern United States and the coastal provinces of Canada. In its native habitat, common buckthorn is an upland species occupying open forests, woodlands, and wetland fens. In the northern U.S., (Fig. 1), it has little discrimination; although it remains to be considered an upland species, it can be found in communities from very wet alkaline peat to mesic,

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