622 



BOTANY 



PART II 



Family 1. Rhamnaeeae. The only native genus of this family, 

 which is distributed in the tropics, is Ehamnus, the Buckthorn (Figs. 

 669-671). 



A o 



B o 



Fir;. 6<5!>. Floral diagrams of \A, Rhamnus cathartica 

 (represented as hermaphrodite) and B, Rh. 

 Frangula. (After EICHLER.) 



KM;. tiTO. Hlif in nun Frangula. Flower 

 cut through longitudinally, a, Re- 

 ceptacle ; 6, calyx ; c, petal ; d, a 

 stamen ; e, pistil (magnified). (After 

 BERG and SCHMIDT.) 



Rh. Frangula, the Berry-bearing Alder, is a shrub with alternate, entire leaves 

 provided with small stipules. The flowers are solitary or in groups in the axils of 

 the leaves. K5, C5, A5, G(2). The* floral receptacle forms a cup-shaped disc. 



Fin. ffi'l. nti" vinifera. Opening 

 flower. , Calyx ; b, corolla ; c, 

 disc ; d, stamens ; e, ovary (mag- 

 niiied). (After BERG and SCHMIDT.) 



FIG. 671. Rhamnus frangula (i nat size). Flowering 

 branch and portion of a branch bearing fruits. 



FIG. 673. Floral diagram of Ampel- 

 opsis hederacea. (After EICHLER.) 



Two (less commonly three) carpels ; stigma undivided. Fruit, a drupe with two 

 or three seeds. The wood was formerly used as a source of charcoal for the manu- 

 facture of gunpowder. Rh. catharticus has usually spiny branches bearing 



