THE BUCKTHORN FAMILY 235 



manner of preparation of the food, and the action of the poison 

 is extremely interesting. 



Mr. Skey investigated the nature of the poison, and came 

 to the conchision that it was probably a glucoside (v., under 

 Coriaria ruscifoUa.) He isolated the bitter principle in 

 beautifully radiating acicular crystals, and considered that 

 it was similar to digitaline {i.e., the drug obtained from the 

 root of the fox-glove), {v., also under Pomaderris.) 



The Home of the Karaka. 



The Maoris state that they originally brought the karaka 

 with them from their semi-mythical Eden (Hawaiki), but 

 science contradicts this statement. Until quite recently, the 

 genus was believed to be endemic, but it has now been found 

 in New Caledonia and the New Hebrides, so that it is 

 probable the plant came into New Zealand when there was a 

 land extension to the north. It is apparently quite unknown 

 in the Western Pacific, whence the Maoris came to New 

 Zealand, but a very similar tree growing in Polynesia bears, it 

 is said, the same name. It is probable, therefore, that the 

 name karaka was attached to the New Zealand tree by the 

 Maoris, because of its resemblance to a tree found in their 

 former home, and not because they brought it with them. 

 The Maoris wore chaplets of the leaves upon their heads, 

 when they visited the graves of their ancestors on any 

 important occasion. 



Rhamnaceae. 



The Buckthorn Family. 



Distribution. — A widely-distributed family, occurring in warm and 

 temperate regions. Some of the species possess edible fruits, while the bark of 

 others yields a tonic, and is used in medicine. Yellow, green and blue dyes 

 are also obtained from some of the fruits. The leaves of Ceanothus americanus- 

 have been used as a substitute for tea. 



