Rhamnus alaternus L. (Medit., SW Eur., N Afr.) – An exceptional alien. A single young shrub was found growing at the foot of an unloading quay in a transport zone in Rekkem, close to the French border, in 2014. It was regularly confirmed since then and was still present in 2020. Flowering and fruiting has not been observed so far and the shrub was initially thought to be Arbutus unedo. The latter, however, has glandular twigs.
This species is cultivated as an ornamental shrub but probably only very rarely so in Belgium (it is not mentioned by De Koning et al. 2000). It was most likely introduced by berry-eating birds although an unintentional introduction by truck drivers or goods from southern parts of Europe cannot be excluded either.
Rhamnus alaternus is locally plentifully naturalized in woodlands in the British Isles (Clement & Foster 1994). It has invasive tendencies in Mediterranean climate types, for instance in parts of Australia and New Zealand, and is also naturalized in California and some Pacific Islands.
 |
 |
Selected literature:
Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
De Koning J., Van den Broek J.W., Van de Laar H.J. & Fortgens G. (2000) Nederlandse dendrologie (13e druk). H. Veenman & zonen, Ede: 585 p.