Rhamnus catharticus

Rhamnus cathartica L.

Rhamnus cathartica

A deciduous, dioecious shrub or small tree growing up to 10 meters tall with grey-brown bark and often thorny branches. The leaves are elliptic to oval, 25–90 mm long and 12–35 mm broad. The flowers are yellowish-green with four petals, blooming in April-June. Seeds and leaves contain mild toxins such as anthraquinones that can cause gastrointestinal irritation in humans.

Details

Order:

Rosales

Family:

Rhamnaceae

Genus:

Rhamnus

Chemistry:

Anthraquinones and emodin are primary chemical compounds found in the seeds, leaves, and fruit. These compounds have laxative effects and contribute to seed dispersal.

Uses:

The bark and fruit were traditionally used as a purgative in medicine, but this use has declined due to potential harmful effects.

Flowering time:

April-June

Sowing time:

Plant height:

Up to 10 meters

Flower color:

Yellowish-green

Suitable habitat:

Native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. Naturalized in North America and considered invasive in several regions.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

Tenders

Expert guidance for current/future CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) subsidy applications