BUCKTHORN 189 



(1 1*5 cm.), exstipulate, eglandular, covered with stellate 

 hairs. Autumn leaves deep red. 



Venation pinnate, close. Midrib prominent beneath, 

 thinning out above, nearly straight ; the secondaries more 

 or less sinuate, running to the margin and ending there, at 

 angles of 40 50, but forking before they reach it; strong, 

 the ends of the forks and their branches ending in the 

 dentate teeth : the forked branches almost all from the 

 outer sides, and more numerous from the lower secondaries, 

 each of which gives off about 5 very distinct forked 

 branches from its outer side. Tertiaries fine, simple, 

 linking or looping the ends of the forks, and forming cross- 

 ties between the secondaries. Secondaries about -fa J 

 the length of the midrib apart, closer below than above. 

 Meshes rectangular. 



** Leaves glabrous or nearly so, matt green, 

 finely serrate. Venation pinnate with few 

 arched secondaries. 



Rhamnus catharticus, L. Buckthorn (Figs. 51, 52). 

 Shrub with thorns. The leaves are not always opposite, 

 and are tufted on the dwarf shoots ; but the sub-opposite 

 arrangement prevails on the long shoots. Young petioles 

 and leaves pubescent on the lower side. Leaf 3 6 x 1'5 

 3 cm., on a short petiole (5 15 mm.), ovate, obovate or 

 elliptic, shortly acuminate ; rounded or flattish or slightly 

 cordate at the base; finely and regularly serrate; dark 

 green and glabrous above, paler and slightly pubescent 

 on the venation beneath. Stipules subulate, caducous, 

 about J ^ as long as the petiole. Leaves in autumn 

 yellowish green. 



Venation pinnate-arcuate. The midrib gives off about 

 3 strong secondaries at sharp angles on each side from its 

 lower half; these curve forwards in arches and converge 



