123 
angulis crenatis. Folia rudimentaria 1 mm. longa, deltoidea, sp 
decidua. Spini solitarii, apice stellato-ramosi vel simplices, 8-17 m 
longi, 1*5-2 mm. ecrassi, glabri, cinerei. Pedunculi erecti, 7-12 mm. 
longi, 1-2°5 mm. crassi, umbellatim 2—6-flori vel interdum uniflori, 
minute bracteati. Pedicelli 5 6 mm. longi, apice bibracteati. Bracteae 
2-3 mm. longae et latae, subquadratae, apiculatae, glabrae. Involu- 
crum 5-6 mm. diametro, late campanulatum, gla brum, viride, 
glandulis 5 transverse ene vel sub-reniformibus integris atro- 
viridibus, Ovarium non vi 
SOUTH AFRICA. Ladismith Div.: near 2 OEROS River, 
between Muis Kraal and Ladismith, NV. S. Pill 
The description and aon of this species are are from a living 
plant sent by Mr. Neville 8. Pillans A Me Raval Botanic Gardens, 
Kew, where it flowered in Dec., 19 Pillansii is allied to 
E. stellaespina, Haw., but is well distinguished from that species by 
its much fewer angles, stouter spines, and the transverse pale 
greenish bars upon its stems. The figure represents the plant of 
its natural size. 
XVIIL—CASCARA SAGRADA. 
(Rhamnus Purshiana, DC.) 
W. J. Bean, 
Attention oe Hag 87 been called in these pages to the 
possibility of this drug proving a remunerative culture in the 
g 
British Isles (eos K. B. 1908 p. 429) and the question has aroused 
considerable interest in various parts of the country. In 1908, 
seeds of Rhamnus Purshiana were distributed from Kew to about 
twenty establishments in England, Scotland and Ireland. Reports 
have just been received from most of the recipients as to the 
germination of the seeds, also notes on the behaviour of the plants. 
The seeds as received from America do not appear to have had a 
high germinating power, and even the most successful results do 
not show that more than 35 per cent. were fertile. The seeds 
appear to have germinated best when the stiff pulp (the dried fruit) 
in which the seeds, as received, are embedded is removed before 
sowing. The most successful results both as to germination and 
growth have been obtained in the garden of Mr. Collis-Sandes at 
Oak Park, Tralee, Ireland, ‘where some of the plants raised from 
the 1908 seed are already 9 feet high, 8 feet in diameter, and 
6 inches in girth of stem. At Fota they are 7 feet, at Bonsdlobas 
8 feet, and at Glasnevin 6 feet high. The tree is also succeeding 
particularly well in the south-west of Scotland with Sir Herbert 
Maxwell, who had six plants from Kew in 1908. Plants at the 
Edinburgh Botanic Garden are thriving well, 
of very soon arriving at ‘the euittig stage, ‘Be ir rs t 
