Invasive buckthorn shrub is spiking in nature sightings this week
iNaturalist Community
Invasive Species
That dense thicket of dark green shrubs crowding the edge of your local woods or trail might be common buckthorn, a plant that outcompetes native wildflowers and tree seedlings wherever it takes hold.
Common buckthorn is a shrub that was brought to North America from Europe and has since spread aggressively, forming thick stands that shade out native plants underneath. This week, nature watchers logged 237 confirmed sightings of it, making it one of the most-reported plants on the platform. A spike like this usually means the plant is fruiting or leafing out in a way that makes it easy to spot, which is exactly when land managers and gardeners want to identify and remove it.
Key Findings
237 research-grade observations of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) were logged this week
The species ranked among the most-observed plants on iNaturalist during this period
Rhamnus cathartica is a known invasive species in North America that displaces native understory plants
chevron_right Technical Summary
Common buckthorn, an invasive shrub that crowds out native plants, is popping up heavily in citizen naturalist reports this week with 237 verified sightings. Its surge in observations is a signal that this fast-spreading invader is active and worth watching in your area.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Trending: common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) — 237 observations this week
common buckthorn is among the most observed plant species this week with 237 research-grade observations.
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
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