46 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



The Black Currant is easily distinguisbeJ from the other native species by its 

 strong-scented leaves and black fruit. No varieties are produced from it, and the Black 

 Currant-tree of our gardens is just as it was first known to us in its wild state. It 

 is mentioned by Gerarde, who speaks of it as having flowers of a purplish-green colour, 

 succeeded by fruit as big again as the ordinary Red Currant, " but of a stinking and 

 somewhat loathing savour." The Black Currant is regarded perhaps more as a medi- 

 cinal fruit than as one for dietetical use, although some persons are very fond of its 

 peculiar flavour. Jelly made from the fruit is esteemed as good for sore throats. The 

 leaves, fruit, and in fact the whole plant, are said to have diuretic qualities. In Siberia 

 the leaves form the principal ingredient in the drink known as quass ; and the berries 

 being fermented with honey, a powerful sjjirit is distilled from them. The leaves, 

 when young, are put into spirits, so as to give the liquor a brownish tinge, like that of 

 brandy. An infusion of the roots is given to cattle in Russia as a febrifuge. The 

 leaves are largely employed in the adiilteration of tea. They have a flavour somewhat 

 resembling that of green tea, and possess somewhat of the same astringent quality. In 

 Scotland a rob, or jam, is extensively made from Black Currants, which is esteemed 

 as an addition to the whiskey toddy there so much liked. Lozenges made from the 

 juice are sold in some quantities, and are pleasant and useful in pectoral complaints. 

 In Russia the Black Currant-tree is more highly esteemed than with us, and there it is 

 often forced in pots for the sake of the fragrance of its leaves. In planting, Dr. Neill 

 eays it produces most fruit as a standard, but the largest berries when trained to a wall. 



ORDER XXXI.— ORASSULACE^. 



Succulent licrbs, or shrubs with fleshy stems. Leaves alternate, 

 opposite or verticillatc, simple, undivided, generally fleshy, exstipu- 

 latc. Inflorescence commonly corymbose-cymes, the branches of 

 which are racemose with unilateral flowers, sometimes recurved in 

 bud. riowers generally perfect, regular, yellow, red, white, purple 

 or greenish. Calyx persistent, of 5 or 4 (more rarely 3 to 30) sepals, 

 more or less united at the base, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla 

 of as many petals as there are sepals, without claws, inserted on the 

 base of the calyx, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens as many as 

 the petals or twice as many, inserted with the petals or adnata to 

 tlieir base ; filaments subulate or linear ; anthers introrse. Ovaries 

 equal in number to the petals and opposite to them, with a hypogy- 

 nous scale at the base of each, distinct or rarely more or less united ; 

 ovules generally numerous, in 2 rows ; styles continuous with the 

 backs of the ovaries, short, persistent, stigmatiferous at the apex 

 on tlie inner side. Pruit of as many follicles as there are carpels, 

 opening by the inner sXiture when they are distinct. Seeds gene- 

 rally numerous, anatropous, with a membranaceous often loose 

 testa ; albumen fleshy ; embryo straight, in the axis of the albumen. 



