Rhamnus frangula
| Rhamnus frangula | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 16' |
| Width: | 13' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Rhamnus frangula (common name: alder buckthorn)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed will require 1 - 2 months cold stratification at about 5° and should be sown as early in the year as possible in a cold frame or outdoor seedbed[1]. Germination is usually good, at least 80% by late spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[2].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame.
Layering in early spring[3].
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any reasonably good soil[4][5], preferring neutral to acid conditions[6]. It grows well on damp or peaty soils[5]. Prefers a moist moderately fertile soil in sun or semi-shade[1]. Grows well in wet soils but not if they are water-logged[7]. Dislikes drought or exposure to strong winds[7].
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[6].
Alder buckthorn is a slow-growing plant, though it coppices well. It was at one time often grown for its wood which was used in making charcoal[7]. The plants regenerate well after forest fires or grazing[7].
Plants flower on one-year old wood and also on the current year's growth[3].
Cultivated as a medicinal plant in S. Europe[8].
Often bears the aecidospore stage of 'crown rust' of oats[9]. The species in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
A good bee plant[3] and a main food plant for the larvae of the yellow brimstone butterfly[7].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, the Urals and Siberia.
Habitat: Swamps and damp places, usually on moist heaths and damp open woods, preferring a peaty soil[10][11][12].
Medicinal: Alder buckthorn has been used medicinally as a gentle laxative since at least the Middle Ages[13]. The bark contains 3 - 7% anthraquinones, these act on the wall of the colon stimulating a bowel movement approximately 8 - 12 hours after ingestion[14]. It is so gentle and effective a treatment when prescribed in the correct dosages that it is completely safe to use for children and pregnant women[13]. The bark also contains anthrones and anthranols, these induce vomiting but the severity of their effect is greatly reduced after the bark has been dried and stored for a long time[14]. The bark is harvested in early summer from the young trunk and moderately sized branches, it must then be dried and stored for at least 12 months before being used[3][6]
The inner bark is cathartic, cholagogue, laxative (the fresh bark is violently purgative), tonic, vermifuge[3][10][15][12][16]. It is taken internally as a laxative for chronic atonic constipation and is also used to treat abdominal bloating, hepatitis, cirrhosis, jaundice, and liver and gall bladder complaints[6]. It should be used with caution since excess doses or using the bark before it is cured can cause violent purging[10][12]. Externally, the bark is used to treat gum diseases and scalp infestations[6], or as a lotion for minor skin irritations[13].
The fruit is occasionally used, it is aperient without being irritating[3].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and bark[3][17]. It is much used in Russia and turns black when mixed with salts of iron[3].
A green dye is obtained from the unripe fruit[3][17].
A blue or grey dye is obtained from the ripe berries[3][17].
Plants can be grown as an informal (untrimmed) hedge, though they are also amenable to trimming[1]. The cultivar 'Tallhedge (syn 'Columnaris') is very suitable for this purpose[1].
The wood is used to make wooden nails, shoe lasts, veneer etc[18][19]. It is the source of a high quality charcoal that is used by artists[3][4][15][11][20][17][21][7].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Late Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The plant is poisonous unless stored for 12 months before use[3][22][23]. This report is probably referring to the bark.
Also Known As: Frangula alnus. Mill.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gordon, A and D Rowe. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Beckett, Kenneth and Gillian Beckett. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold, 1979.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.