Here are general characteristics of the appearance of buckthorns:
1. Leaves:
- Alternate arrangement
- Simple, usually ovate to elliptical in shape
- Serrated or toothed margins
- Typically have three main veins radiating from the base of the leaf
- Dark green in color, often glossy
2. Stems:
- Branching, often thorny or spiny
- Round to angular in cross-section
- Brownish-gray or reddish-brown in color, may have lenticels (small, raised dots or dashes)
3. Flowers:
- Small, greenish or yellowish-white
- Inconspicuous, grouped in small clusters or cymes at the leaf axils or at the ends of short shoots
- Radially symmetric with five petals and five stamens
- Flowering usually occurs in spring
4. Fruits:
- Small, round to ovoid drupes (stone fruits)
- Green when immature, turning black or dark purple when ripe
- Each fruit contains a single seed
5. Growth habit:
- Buckthorn species can be shrubs or small trees, depending on the species. They can form dense thickets and tend to spread vigorously in some regions.
It's important to note that there are different buckthorn species, and they can vary in specific details of appearance. Additionally, some invasive species of buckthorn may have slightly different characteristics compared to the native species.