Rhamnus cathartica

Origin: Europe, Asia, North Western Africa.

Botanical characteristcs: It is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with thorny branches at the apex and reddishbrown bark. Leaves are ovoid-elliptical, serrate, 3-9 cm long., with evident veins parallel to leaf margins, dark green, yellow in autumn. Monoecious plant with flowering in late spring and early summer, flowers are unisexual, greenish-yellow, in axillary bunches.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It is spontaneous in thermophilous woods with hot dry climates, on poor, dry, stony, calcareous soils.

Use: It is suitable for hedges and wild gardens or woods or for environmental restoration on arid and poor soils.