The glossy buckthorn is a typical shrub that occurs in the marsh alder forest of the National Nature Reserve Šúr near Svätý Jur. The shrub tends to co-exist with grey willow, guelder-rose, European white elm or bird cherry. It grows most luxuriantly in damp and very bright places; the opposite is true as regards places with larger alders and a dense connection of tree crowns. The glossy buckthorn can grow to a height of 5 m, occasionally up to 9 m; therefore it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a tree. The bark is smooth, black and brown with white dots...