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Rhantnéee:] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 169 
sulas ; and Scutia indica, which includes Ceanothus zeylanicus and circumscissus, is not 
mentioned out of the former. Dr. Wallich has, however, two Nepal species, C. nepalensis 
and C. triquetra ; the latter, with the exception of the emarginate petals, agreeing with 
the character of Scutia, extends from Kemaon to the Deyra Doon and to Mussooree, at 
6,500 feet of elevation, as well as to many parts of the hills. C. venosus, nob., is found at 
Nagkanda. Hovenia dulcis is common to India, China, and the Himalayas, and is 
certainly indigenous in the latter, as I have found it wild in the woods about Mussooree, 
at 6,500 feet of elevation. Berchemia and Sageretia, genera common to China and 
North America, with species of the latter, also in South America, are both found in 
India and at the foot of the Himalayas. B. parviflora in the Peninsula; B. Jlavescens 
towards Gossainthan ; B. floribunda, in Nepal and Kemaon ; and B. lara, of which the 
fruit is that of the genus, is found in the low and sheltered valley of Sahunsadhara, as well 
as in the Kheree Pass. Sageretia oppositifolia and ramosa, are found in Nepal; of these the 
‘former extends to the Deyra Doon. Paliurus, found in Syria and the south of Europe, 
has also a species, P. virgatus, Don. Bot. Mag. t. 2,535, in Nepal, where Rhamnus, a 
genus of very wide distribution, has also a representative. This, the R. virgatus of 
Dr. Roxburgh, is common in both Kemaon and Gurhwal. At Mussooree, it is found 
ef 6,500 feet of elevation ; where also R. rupestris, nob., is common; while another new 
species, 2. purpureus, is found at Simla, and on the sides of Choor. 
The berries of one species of Rhamnus, or buckthorn, have long been known from 
their cathartic nature: this property is participated in by those of other species, as well 
as by their inner bark. The berries of R. catharticus, infectorius, saxatilis, and amyg- 
dalinus, known as French and Turkey berries, graines d’ Avignon and graines jaunes, 
also furnish a colour, which varies from yellow to green. This M. Brongniart supposes 
is Owing rather to different degrees of ripeness than to essential differences in nature; 
it is probable, therefore, that the Himalayan species, especially R. virgatus, so common 
everywhere, and so loaded with berries, might form an effectual substitute, and be 
useful as a dye in the country, or serve as an additional article of commerce. The fruit 
of Zizyphus, on the contrary, is of an edible nature, frequently sub-acid, pleasant-tasted, 
aid nourishing. This is an anomaly not unfrequently presented, M. Brongniart re- 
marks, by the fleshy part of the fruit, when every other part of two plants may agree in 
possessing the same properties, as for instance, the peach and almond. Z. vulgaris, or 
_ jujube, introduced from Syria, is cultivated in the south of Europe for its pleasant-tasted 
fruit; the long-famed Z. /otus, in Africa, and Z. spina christi, in Syria, afford edible 
fruit in their respective countries ; so in India and China, Z. jujuba, nitida, napeca, 
Roxb., and other species, yield a fruit, which is much eaten by the natives of these coun- 
tries. The first with round fruit is the most common species in the jungles of Northern 
India, but in the gardens there is a variety or’ distinct species, with oblong fruit, 
which attains a considerable size, and when grafted, yields a very pleasant-tasted fruit, 
called ber, which may be styled the Indian jujube. In Persian works, berree and jharree 
are said to be its Hindoostanee ; Aimar and khial its Persian; nebbek and sidr its Arabic 
zZ names; 
