Buckthorn Bumelia is also known as Smooth Buckthorn.

The plant is a large shrub or small tree. Its preferred habitat is flood zones, stream banks and moist woods. Distribution is occasional in the Escambia region.

The leaves are alternate on the stem, simple, generally not toothed, thick, no stipules, long pointed, and rounded at the base.

Flowers are small, usually white, green or light brown; crowded or solitary at the base of leaves or below the leaf at its node. All are bisexual in nature, symmetrical in form, with hairy calyx of 4 to 8 overlapping lobes. The corolla has a short tube and 4 to 8 short lobes; numerous short stamens, many being sterile. Flowers occur in the summer.

Fruit is a berry with one (sometimes few) large elliptical shiny seeds with large scar and milky pulp. The seeds are edible, but harvesting is difficult and usually not worth the effort.