2G0 RHAMNACEiE. Rhamncs. 



1. BERCHEMIA. Necker ; DC. prodr. 2. p. 22; Brongn. in ann. sci. 

 oiat. 10. p. 356. 



Calyx 5-parted, with a hemispherical tube ; segments erect. Petals 5, 

 convolute. Stamens enclosed within the petals : anthers ovate, 2-celled, 

 Ovary half immersed in the annular flattish disk, but free from it, 2-celled : 

 style short, conical, slightly bifid at the summit. Fruit oblong, drupaceous, 

 with a bony 2-celled nut. — Erect or climbing unarmed shrubs. Leaves alter- 

 nate, many-veined ; the veins oblique aod nearly simple. Flowers in small 

 racemose panicles, or in fascicles, terminal and from the axils of the upper 

 leaves. 



1. B. voluhilis (DC): climbing; branches glabrous ; leaves ovate, slight- 

 ly undulated, mucronate, glabrous ; flowers dicEcious, in small panicles. — 

 DC. prodr. 2. p. 22. Rhamnus volubilis, Linn.; Jacq. ic. rar. t. 336; 

 IValL Car. p. 101 ; Michx.! fl. 1. p. 153. Zizyphus volubilis, Willd. sp. 1. 

 p. 1102; Pursh, fl. 1. p.lSS; Ell. sk. 1. p. 290. ^noplia volubilis, 

 Schult. syst. 5. p. 322. 



Damp rich soils, Virginia ! to Florida ! and west to the Mississippi ! May- 

 June. — Stem climbing to the height of 12-15 feet, tough and flexible, with 

 pendent branches. Leaves 1-2 inches long, obtuse or slightly cordate at the 

 base. Flowers minute : racemes or panicles 6-10-flowered. Calyx deeply 

 cleft; the segments reticulated. Petals oblong, folded round the stamens. 

 Drupe about 3 lines long, dark purple ; pulp rather thin : nut very hard, 

 smooth, Avith a slight groove on each side. 



2. RHAMNUS. Linn. ; DC. prodr. 2. p. 23 ; Brongn. I. c. p. 360. 



Calyx urceolate, 4-5-cleft. Petals 4-5, emarginate or 2-lobed, usually more 

 or less convolute. Torus thin, lining the tube of the calyx. Ovary free from 

 the calyx, not immersed in the torus, 2-4-celled : styles 2-4, distinct or more 

 or less connected. Fruit drupaceous, containing 2-4 cartilaginous nuts. — 

 Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, on short petioles. 

 Flowers minnte, u.5ually in short axillary clusters. 



* Leaves coriaceous, sempervirent. 



1. R. oleifoUus (Hook.): unarmed, erect ; leaves coriaceous, evergreen, 

 elliptical-oblong, entire, revolute on the margin, glabrous ; flowers pentand- 

 rous, in small axillary crowded panicles ; petals very minute, stigma obscure- 

 ly 2-lobed; fruit 2-seeded.— //bo/c. /. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 123, t. 44; Hook, f 

 Am. in hot. Eeechy, p. 1J6. 



North West Coast, and California, Menzies. Woody plains around St. 

 Barbara, Nuttall ! — A shrub 6-12 feet high, the younger branches pubes- 

 cent. Leaves about 2 inches long, the veins oblique and rather remote, in 

 ihe young state pubescent beneath: petioles 3-4 lines long. Panicles on 

 short peduncles. Sepals ovate, rather erect. Petals cucullate, partly enclos- 

 ing the very short stamens. Anthers ovate-globose. Fruit about as large as 

 ,a paa, globose. 



2. R. laurifolius f Nutt. ! mss.) : "unarmed, erect; leaves coriaceous, 

 fivergreen, elliptical-oblong, or oblong, somcAvhat serrate, the veins approxi- 

 mated ; flowers axillary, 2-4 together, on pedicels shorter than the calyx, 

 fetrandrous; petals very minute. 



