Zizyphus. | RHAMNEZ (Sond.) 475 
Orpen XLV. RHAMNEAZ, R. Br. 
(By W. SonpER.) 
(Rhamni, Juss. Gen. 376. Rhamnex, DC. Prod. 2. p. 19. Endl. Gen. 
No. cexxxix. Rhamnacee, Lind. Veg. Kingd. No. cCxXxli.) 
F Flowers perfect, regular. Calyx tubular, free, or more or less adnate 
with the ovary, 4—5 fid, with valvate estivation. Disc fleshy, lining the 
calyx tube. Petals 4-5, in the throat of the calyx, small, hood-shaped 
or flat, sometimes wanting. Stamens as many as the petals, and oppo- 
site to them. Ovary free or adnate, 2-4-celled; ovules solitary, erect, 
anatropous; styles more or less connate, Fruit fleshy or capsular; seeds 
erect ; embryo lying in fleshy albumen, rarely exalbuminous ; radicle 
inferior, 
Trees or shrubs, often spiny, common in the warmer parts of the temperate zones 
and especially so in the southern hemisphere ; rare within the tropics and the colder 
parts of the temperate zone. Flowers small or minute, cymose, umbelled, spiked or 
capitate. Leaves simple, alternate, rarely opposite, 3-nerved or penni-nerved, entire 
or serrated ; stipules if present minute. The fleshy fruits of several are violent pur- 
gatives; those of others, like the Jujube, are wholesome and agreeable to the taste. 
The wood of the arborescent species is compact and applied to various purposes. 
About 250 species are known. | 
TABLE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GENERA. 
* Limb of the calyx deciduous after flowering. Fruit superior or half superior. 
I. Zizyphus.—Disk flat, 5-angled, expanded. Ovary sunk in the disk, Styles 2-3. 
Fruit fleshy. : 
38 Rhamnus.— Disk thin, lining the calyx-tube. Ovary free. Styles 3-4. Fruit 
fleshy. 3 
IIT, Boutin Disk fleshy, lining the calyx-tube. Ovary not sunk. Style short, sim- 
ple, obconical. Fruit juicy. 
IV. Noltea.— Disk very thin, lining the calyx-tube. Ovary half inferior. Style 
simple, 3-angled, Fruit dry, 3-valved, the valves with a dorsal ridge. 
** Limb of the calyx persistent ; or ovary crowned with a fleshy dise. Fruit 
inferior. 
: : 
| 2°! _V. Helinus.—Climbing shrubs, with broad leaves. Flowers cymose, glabrous. 
Ih-seV1. Phylica,—Erect shrubs, with small, mostly linear leaves. Flowers pubescent, 
< spicate or capitate. 
I, ZIZYPHUS, Tournef. 
. | Inte 
‘ Calyx spreading, 5-cleft. Petals 5, obovate, unguiculate, convolute, 
Rhaneks aided iia ovate, 2-celled. Disc flat, pentagonal, ex- 
panded, adhering to the tube of the calyx. Ovary aire gem 
in the disc and adnate to it. Styles 2-3, diverging or com a a 
fleshy, containing a 1-2-celled nut. Seeds sessile, sub-orbic te 
pressed, very smooth, Zourn. ist. t. 403. DC. 1. & 2. p. 19. Brogn. 
Mem, Rhamn. p. 47. t. I. 2. Endl. corpo ae 
ith alternate, 3-nerved leaves a ers axillary, 
Senha te ferrari eg more or less grateful. Zizouf, in Arabio, i ; 
name of the Lotos, Zizyphus Lotus, Lam. ae 
1. Z. mucronata (Willd. ! En. Berl. p. 251); branchlets, petioles, and 
