CALTCIFLOR-i:. 513 



Diagnosis. — Small trees or shrubs, with simple leaves, and 

 small regular usually perfect flowers ; rarely unisexual. Calyx 

 4 — 5-parted, valvate. Petals and stamens distinct, perigy- 

 nous, and equal in number to the divisions of the calyx ; the 

 petals sometimes wanting. Ovary more or less superior, sur- 

 rounded by a fleshy disk. Fruit 2, 3, or 4-celled, with one erect 

 seed in each cell. Seed usually albuminous, without an aril. 



Distribution, ^'C. — G-enerally distributed over the globe except 

 in the verj' coldest regions. Examples of the Genera : — Zizyphus, 

 Ehamnus, Ceanothus, There are about 260 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Some of the plants of this order have 

 acrid and purgative properties ; others are bitter, febrifugal, and 

 tonic. A few are used in the preparation of dyeing materials, 

 and some few others have edible fruits. Some of the more im- 

 portant plants may be enumerated as follows : — 



Ceanothus amevicanus. — The young shoots are astringent ; and in Xew 

 Jersey the leaves are di-ied and used as a substitute for tea ; hence they are 

 commonly known as New Jersey Tea. 



Discaria febri/uga.— The root is used in Brazil as a febrifuge and tonic. 



Gouania clumin<je»sis is reputed to possess stomachic properties. 



Hovenia dtilcis.— The peduncles of this plant become ultimately enlarged 

 and succulent, and are much esteemed in China, where they are eaten as a 

 kind of fruit. 



Jihanmus. — This genus is the most important in the order. Thus, R. ca- 

 ihaiticus, commonly called Buckthorn, produces a fruit which has been useil 

 for ages as a hydragogue cathartic ; it is, however, but rarely employed at 

 the present day, on account of its violent and unpleasant operation. The 

 pisrment kno-uTi as mp-green is preparett by evaporating to dryness tlie juice 

 of Buckthorn hemes previously mixed with lime. The bark oiR.. Frangula, 

 the Black Alder, possesses purgative and alterative properties. It is reputed 

 to be efficacious in various cutaneous affections, rheumatism, secoudaiy 

 syphihs, &c. ; a gi-eenish or yellowish-green dye is made from the leaves. 

 The wood under the name of " Dogwood " is largely used in the manufacture 

 of the finer kinds of gunpowder. The unripe ftruits of R. infectcrtus are 

 kno^vn in commerce under the name of French Berries (Graines d" Avignon 

 of the French) ; while those of R. amygdaVmus constitute the berries called 

 yellow berries, or Persian beriies. Some authors say that both the French 

 and Persian berries are the produce of one species, the R. infectorias, and 

 that the only difference between them is in size— those caUed French or 

 Avignon berries being smaller, and not of such good quality as the Persian 

 berries, which are obtained from Asiatic Tm-key and Persia. These berries 

 produce a beautiful yellow colour, which is used for dyeing morocco leather, 

 and by calico-printers. R. saxatilis produces a fruit, which may be also 

 employed for dyeing yellow-. In Abyssinia, the leaves of R. pau<:itloiu.<. and 

 the fi-uit of R. Staddo, both of which possess bitter properties, are employal 

 as a substitute for hops in the prepai'ation of beer. From R. alatemus a 

 blue dye may be prepared. The Chinese green dye {Lo-kao), known here as 

 Chinese Green Indigo, and now much used in Europe, is prepared from R. 

 chlorophorus (globosus) and R. utilis. 



Sageretia theezans is a native of China, where its leaves are used as a sub- 

 stitute for tea by the poorer inhabitants. 



Ventilago Maderaspatana. PupU. — The bark of the root is used in India 

 in the production of orange and other dyes. 



Zizyphus. — Many species of this genus have edible fruits. Thus, the 

 Z. vulgaris, Z Jujuba, and others, yield the fniits known under the name of 

 jujubes. Z. Lotu^ has also an edible fruit, which is esteemed by the Arabs, 

 &c. This is generally supposed to be the Lotus of the ancients, and from 

 which the Lotophagi received their name. By some, however, the Lotus of 

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