376 CONTRIBUTIONS FEOM THE NATIONAL HERBAEIUM. 



1. RHAMNUS L. 



1. Rhamnus alnifolia L'lTcr. Buckthorn. Common at low and middle alti- 

 tudes, in woods, on open slopes, or in swamps. B. C. to Calif., N. J., and Me.— 

 Shrub, 0.6 to 1.2 meters high; leaves alternate, oval or elliptic, 3 to 8 cm. long, 

 obtuse or acute, toothed, nearly glabrous; flowers very small and inconspicuous; 

 fruit black, 3-seeded, very bitter. 



A characteristic shrub, often forming low thickets. The leaves turn yellow m 

 autumn. The name buckthorn is not very appropriate, for the plant has no thorns. 

 A related species, common on the Pacific coast and extending also into Montana 

 {Rhamnus pursMana), furnishes the cascara sagiada which is used in medicine. 



2. CEANOTHUS L. 



Low shrubs mth alternate 3-ribbed leaves; flowers small, in dense rounded 

 panicles; petals 5; capsule 3-celled. 

 Leaves thick, pale and finely velvety-hairy on the under surface; flower panicles on 



leafv stalks 1- C- velutinus 



Leaves thin, green and nearly glabrous on the under surface; panicles often on naked 



stalks 2. C. sanguineus. 



1 Ceanothus velutinus Dougl. Deerbuush. Frequent at low or middle alti- 

 tudes, usually on open rocky slopes. B. C. to Colo, and S. Dak.-Shrub, 0.6 to L5 

 meters high, with green twigs; leaves 4 to 7 cm. long, finely toothed. 



The leaves are bright green on the upper surface and appear as if varnished. The 

 flowers appear early in the season. 



2 Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh. Snowbrush. Brushy hillsides about Belton. 

 Mont, to Calif, and B. C— Slender shrub, about a meter high; older branches red or 

 purple- leaves oval, rounded at the apex, finely toothed. 



This' shrub is closely related to the Xew Jersey tea {Ceanothvs americanvs) of the 

 Eastern States, whose leaves were used as a substitute for Chinese tea durir.g the 

 Revolutionary War. 



53. MALVACEAE. Mallow Family. 



The cultivated althaea, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, and cotton belong to the mallow 

 ^^°^'^^- 1.- SPHAERALCEA St. Hil. 



1. Sphaeralcea rivularis Dougl. Wild hollyhock. Common on the east slope, 

 chiefly at low altitudes, in woods, especially among aspens, or at the edges of streams. 

 B C "to Colo and S. Dak.— Coarse perennial herb, 0.6 to 1.5 meters high, covered 

 with branched hairs; leaves alternate, 5 to 12 cm. long, 5 or 7-lobed ; flowers clustered 

 in the axils of the upper leaves, delicate pink; petals 5, about 2 cm. long; fruit 

 composed of several cells, these falling apart like the sections of an orange. 



The flowers are very handsome, but they last only a short time. The fruit is cov- 

 ered with stiff hairs, which penetrate the skin easily. 



64. HYPEEICACEAE. St. John's-wort Family. 

 1. HYPERICUM L. 



1. Hypericum scouleri Hook. St. John's-wort. Abundant, chiefly at high and 

 middle altitudes, in moist places; common in alpine meadows. B. C. to Calif., Wyo., 

 and Mont -Glabrous perennial herb, 10 to 30 cm. high; leaves opposite, entire, 

 sessile, 1 to 2 cm. long, black-dotted; flowers bright yellow, in cymes; petals 5, 8 to 

 10 mm long; stamens numerous; fruit a 3-lobed capsule. 



The plants often form dense clumps, which are covered with the golden flowers. 

 The buds are tinged with red. 



