Rhamnus davurica Pallas

Locations ofRhamnus davurica Pallas in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Rhamnaceae
Botanical Name
Rhamnus davurica Pallas
Common Name
Dahurian Buckthorn
Synonym(s)
Rhamnus davurica Pallas ssp. davurica; Rhamnus davurica Pallas var. nipponica Makino
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Rhamnus davurica Pallas
Comments
Apparently introduced at the Blandy Farm State Arboretum prior to 1991 and spreading rapidly. Formerly reported as R. cathartica. More recently discovered to be well established and invasive elsewhere in Clarke County and in Frederick County.

FNA and BONAP recognize ssp. davurica and ssp. nipponica (Makino) Kartesz & Ghandi. Some Virginia specimens were determined as var. nipponica Makino by A.A. Reznicek (MICH), who has studied the genus; however, according to FNA, there seems to be some question about whether such plants fall outside the range of variability of ssp. davurica. This is confusing, and the Flora of China doesn't recognize subspecies of this tree, so we here treat this only at species level, as Flora of Virginia and Flora of the Southeastern U.S. have.
Habitat
Old fields, fencerows, and disturbed floodplains. Known only from Clarke and Frederick counties in the northern Shenandoah Valley, where locally abundant, but likely more widespread.
Native Status
Introduced

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