Alder buckthorn
Frangula alnus
Alder buckthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree primarily found in damp woodlands, bogs, and along riverbanks. It typically grows to heights of two to four meters, occasionally up to six, and features bark that emits a faint sulfurous odor when scraped. Its berries transition from red to black as they ripen, serving as a vital food source for birds. Ecologically, it is highly significant as the primary host plant for the caterpillars of the Brimstone butterfly.
Details
Oxygen production
Minor contribution to oxygen production in terrestrial/riparian environments.
Habitat function
Provides shelter and nesting opportunities for birds as well as habitat for specialized insects.
Nutrient uptake
Nutrient uptake from the soil for biomass production, filtering in riparian zones.
Food source for
Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni), bees, various songbirds (fruits).
Human use
Formerly used for making charcoal for gunpowder; bark is used medicinally as a laxative.
Ecology
Ecological role
Important nectar source for insects and obligate host plant for the caterpillars of the Brimstone butterfly.
Natural predators
Leaf-eating insects and various fungal diseases such as oat crown rust.
Competitor species
Competes with willows and alders in moist thickets and carr woodlands.
Ecosystem service
Contribution to biodiversity, bank stabilization, and forestry use as gunpowder wood.
Threats
Habitat loss due to drainage of wetlands and intensive forestry management.
Scientific profile
Profile
Protection & threats
Main threats
Drainage of wetlands, bog drainage, and intensive forestry conversion of carr forests.