582 



RHAMNACE^. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



have abundant albumen, and connect this Order of Rhamnads with Ebenads in the 

 Gentianal Alliance. 



It appears from the observations of Mr. Bennett {PI. Jav. rar. 131), that in several 

 genera the raphe of the anatropal seeds is thrown out of its origuial position next the 

 placenta, by a tAvist in the cord by which it is attached to the placenta. 



Foimd over nearly all the world, except in the arctic zone. The maximum of 

 species is said to be dispersed through the hottest parts of the United States, the 

 south of Europe, the north of Africa, Persia, and India in the northern hemisphere, 

 and the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland in the southern. Some of the genera 

 appear to be confined to particular countries, as all the true Ceanothuses to North 

 America, PhyHcas to the Cape, Cryptandi'a and Pomaderris to New Holland. 



The berries of various species of Rhamnus are violent purgatives, and have 

 been highly spoken of in dropsy. They also joeld a dye, varying in tint from 

 yellow to green ; the ripe berries of R, catharticus, mixed with gum-arabic and lime- 

 water, form the green colour known under the name of Bladder-green. The French 

 Bei-ries of the shops (Graines d' Avignon, Fr.) are the fruit of R. infectorius, saxatihs, 

 and amygdalinus. Those of R. infectorius, when unripe, are used by the modern 

 Greeks to dye morocco leather yellow. The finiit of Zizyphus is destitute of these 

 purgative qualities, and on the contrary, is often wholesome and pleasant to eat, as in 

 the case of the Jujube, Zizyphus vulgaris and Jujuba, the Zizyphus CEnoplia and Z. 

 Joazeiro, whose drupes are used in Brazil as Jujubes. The Lote-bush, which gave its 

 name to the Ancient Lotophagi, is to this day collected for food by the Arabs of 

 Barbary, who call it Sadr, and its berries Nabk ; it is the Zizyphus Lotus of Botanists. 

 Many other species are also fit for food, among which, in Afghanistan, the Maimunna 

 must be named. This is in some repute for its fruit, which is a sweetish black berry 

 the size of a curi'ant. Its genus has not been ascertained. — Griffith. The peduncles of 

 Hovenia dulcis become extremely enlarged and succulent, and are in China a fruit in 

 much esteem, resembling in flavour, as it is said, a ripe Pear. Some species are 

 astringent. Sageretia theezans is used for tea by the poorer classes in China; an infusion 

 of the tvngs, of Ceanothus americanus has been named as useful, on accotmt of its 

 astringency, to stop gonorrhoeal discharges ; antisyphilitic \irtues are ascribed to the 

 root of the same, and also of Berchemia volubilis ; and it is said by Rumphius, that in 

 the Moluccas the bark of Zizyphus Jujuba is employed as a remedy for diai'rhoea. See 

 Eoyle's Illustratmis, p. 169. The Quina of Brazil is the Discaria febrifuga, whose 

 acrid root is employed in the form of extract as a febrifuge and tonic. The bark of 

 Zizyphus Joazeiro is bitter and astringent, with some acridity, and produces sickness. — 

 MaHms. Similar qualities have been recognised in various other species. The kernels 

 of Zizyphus soporifeinis are sedative, according to the Chinese, who employ them in 

 their medicine. The negroes of the Gambia prepare a wine from the fermented 

 berries of Zizj^jhus orthacanthus ; but those of Z. Baclei are regarded as poisons. 

 The bitter bark of Colubrina Fermentum is said to bring on violent fennentation in 

 the liquors into which it is throA\Ti. Gouania domingensis is stomachic ; Berchemia 

 lineata a hydragogue, accordmg to Chinese authors. Finally, the root of Zizyphus 

 Napeca is used as a remedy for windy colic. 



GENERA. 



Ventilago, Gdrtn. 

 Paliurus, Toiirnef. 



Aspidocarpits, Neck. 



? Aubletia, Lour. 

 Zizyphus, Tomiiief. 

 Condalia, Cav. 

 Berchemia, Neck. 



(Enoplia, Schult. 

 Sageretia, Brongn. 

 Hovenia, Thunb. 

 Rhamnus, Juss. 



Alaternus, Tournef. 



Marcorella, Neck. 



Cervispina, Dill. 



Cardiolepis, Raf. 



Frangula, Touruef. 

 Karwinskia, Zucc. 



Scutia, Commers. 



Sentis, Commers. 



Sarcomphalus , P. Br. 

 Noltea, Reichenb. 



Vittmannia , Wight . 



Willemetia, Brongn. 



Sarcomphaloides , DC. 

 Ceanothus, Linn. 



Forrestia, Raf. 

 Cormonema, Reiss. 



Arrabidea, Steud. 

 Colubrina, L. C. Rich. 



Tubanthera, Commers. 

 Alphitonia, Reiss. 

 Colletia, Commers. 

 Discaria, Hook. 

 Adolphia, Meisn. 



Ochetophila, Popp. 

 Retanilla, Brongn. 



Molincea, Commers. 

 Talguenea, fliers. 



Trevoa, Gill. 

 Walpersia, Reiss. 



Trichocephalus, Reiss. 



Tylanthus, Reiss. 

 Petalopogon, Reiss. 

 Phylica, Linn. 

 Tylanthus, Reiss. 

 Soulangia, Brongn. 

 Spyridium, Fenzl. 

 Crj-ptandra, Smith. 

 Pomaderris, Labill. 



Pomatoderris, Schult. 



Trj-malium, Fenzl. 

 Gouania, Jacq. 



Retinaria, Gartn. 

 Reissekia, Endl. 



Helinus, E. M. 



Willimetia, E. Z. 

 Crumenaria, Mart. 

 ? Solenantha, G. Don. 

 ? Schsefferia, Jacq. 

 ? Strombosia, Blum, 

 ? Samara, Linn. 

 ? Daphniphyllum, Bltim. 

 ? Crypteronia, Blume. 

 ? Galdicia, Neraud. 

 1 Quoia, Neraud. 

 ? Carolinia, Neraud. 



Numbers. Gen. 42. Sp. 250. 



Aquifoliacea;. 

 Position. — Celastracese. — Rhamnace^. — Chaillctiacefe. 

 Byttncriaccce. 



