ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW. 



BULLETIN 



OF 



MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 



No. 10.] 



[1908. 



LIV.-CASCARA SAGRADA. 



(Rhamnus Purshiana, DC). 



The drug, Cascara Sagrada, is furnished by the bark of two 

 species of Rhamnus, R. Purshiana, DC. and R. calif ornica, 

 Eschsch., natives of Western North America. 



Specimens of both species have been in cultivation in the Royal 

 Botanic Gardens, Kew, for many years, and those of R. Purshiana, 

 now form bushv trees of about 18-21 feet in height with a clean 

 trunk of 4-5 feet in length. The specimens of R. calif ornica, at 

 Kew are bushes, and would not be likely to furnish a great quan- 

 tity of bark. Cascara Sagrada was introduced into medicine some 

 thirty years ago, and since that time there has been a rapid 

 destruction of the wild source of supply. 



The attention of Kew was drawn to the matter in a letter from 

 Mr. F. R. S. Balfour, who has recently made some interesting 

 journeys in the Western States of N. America with the object of 

 studying the forests of those regions. In sending some seeds of 

 Rhamnus Purshiana he wrote as follows : — 



" I send you some seed of Rhamnus Purshiana gathered by me 

 at the head waters of South Fork of Skokomish river, Olympic 

 Mountains, Washington. It is from this tree that the medical 

 Mascara Sagrada' (bark) is got, of which about 50 carloads were 

 sent East from Washington and Oregon last year, proceeds ol 

 which amounted to sl00,000. The trees are becoming rapidly 



remote places, ana it occurs iu "">«""»« »" 



DWiJ mism UB esutblished in Western Ireland and Scotland 



for the growth here of the tree, which ought to flourish. 1 iouncl 

 it up to 40 feet high. 



" Should you next year wish more seed, kindly let me know, 



I 



fficulty 



From the way in which R. Purshiana has flourished at Kew 



* Plate 1) it seems not unlikely that it may be a suitable 



1) it seems 



1375 Wt 35 12/08 D & S 29 34356 



