BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

Frangula alnus Miller (Alder Buckthorn, Black Dogwood)

Similar species

Beware Amelanchier lamarckii (Juneberry) which can be naturalised in the same habitat in southern England.

Flowers and fruits of Buckthorns are axillary, forming a characteristic cluster a little way back from the tip of the branch whereas Juneberry has loose terminal raceme.

Vegetative specimens can be distinguished by the short petioles (less than 1cm) of Alder Buckthorn compared to the longer ones (up to 2cm) of Juneberry. Furthermore, the leaf edge is completely smooth in Alder Buckthorn whereas it is denticulate in Juneberry.

Records (and photo sets)

Taxon	Summary	Date	Vice-county	Country
Frangula alnus	Plant	16 September 2002	W. Sussex	England	5	11

Suggested Literature

Frangula alnus may be covered by literature listed under:

BIOTA
(living things)

Eukaryota
(eukaryotes)

PLANTAE
(plants)

SPERMATOPHYTA
(vascular plants)

MAGNOLIOPSIDA
(flowering plants)

MAGNOLIIDAE
(dicotyledonous flowering plants)

Feeding and other inter-species relationships

Associated with Frangula alnus:

branch (dead)	dead branch is decayed by solitary or grouped apothecium	Pezicula frangulae - a discomycete (Helotiales: Dermateaceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
branch (dead)	dead branch is decayed by stroma	Valsa auerswaldii - a valsoid pyrenomycete (Diaporthales: Valsaceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
flower bud	flower bud is galled by larva	Contarinia rhamni - a gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986
leaf (petiole)	leaf (petiole) is galled by aecium	Puccinia coronata - Crown Rust (Uredinales: Pucciniaceae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986 Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
leaf	leaf is galled by	Eriophyes annulatus - a gall mite (Eriophyidae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986
leaf	leaf is galled by	Trioza rhamni - a jumping plantlouse (Homoptera: Psyllidae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986
leaf	leaf is galled by	Trichochermes walkeri - a jumping plantlouse (Homoptera: Triozidae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986
leaf	leaf is galled by aecium	Puccinia coronata - Crown Rust (Uredinales: Pucciniaceae)	Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986 Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
leaf	leaf is parasitised by amphigenous cleistothecium	Microsphaera divaricata - Alder Buckthorn Mildew (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 [mainly on young shoots]
leaf	leaf is parasitised by amphigenous conidial anamorph	Microsphaera divaricata - Alder Buckthorn Mildew (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 [mainly on young shoots]
twig (dead)	dead twig is decayed by immersed pseudothecium	Karstenula rhodostoma - a fungus (Pleosporales: Melanommataceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997
twig (dead)	dead twig is decayed by immersed perithecium	Eutypella scoparia - a stromatic pyrenomycete (Xylariales: Diatrypaceae)	Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997 [with erumpent necks]

Frangula alnus may be associated with more taxa listed at higher taxonomic level

MAGNOLIOPSIDA
(flowering plants)

MAGNOLIIDAE
(dicotyledonous flowering plants)

References

Ellis, M.B. & J.P., 1997	Microfungi on Land Plants: An Identification Handbook
Stubbs, F.B. (Editor), 1986	Provisional Keys to British Plant Galls