15th September 2025

Two more plants from the local hedgerows. These were from the long hedge going towards Crixhall Court from the church.

This is Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). It's important as the food plant for Brimstone butterfly caterpillars. The berries are eaten by birds which is how its seeds are spread. Purging Buckthorn is so named because of the laxative effects of its berries when eaten.

I always like seeing Spindle (Euonymus europaeus) when the fruits are ripening. They make for a lovely splash of colour in the autumn hedgerow-pink fruit and orange seeds. The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of several moth species and the Holly Blue butterfly.