Many are purgative. Common buckthorn was described by Linnaeus in 1753. In Canada, it is known mainly from southern Ontario but also occurs east to Nova Scotia, and west to Saskatchewan.
Solid circles represent individual or local occurrences.
The female trees produce small dark fruits called drupes that each contain four seeds. Common buckthorn occurs in a range of upland communities including upland and floodplain forests, woodland edges, fencerows, prairies, and old fields. Detailed ecological studies need to be conducted to assess the degree of impact in natural areas. Present Status and Potential Threat Common buckthorn presently occurs in a limited portion of Canada and appears to be seriously invasive in only part of this range. Its rapid spread, however, coupled with its ability to invade a range of habitats suggest that it will become a greater problem in the future.