86 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



and is very sligliily piiiiiful, while producing most of tlic good effects tliat follow tlio 

 applicuticni of the cantharides plaistor. The berries are used in Germany and Siberia 

 as a cathartic, but are unsafe and dangerous in unpractised hands. According to 

 Linnajus, they are used in Sweden to poison wolves and foxes. The Russian and 

 Tartar women employ them as a cosmetic, to give their skin a rosy appearance — a 

 dangerous practice if often repeated. When the berries have been accidentally eaten 

 by children or others, the best remedies are oil, fresh butter, linseed tea, or milk, or 

 some kind of emollient to allay the violence of the inflammation. The branches of 

 the Mezereon afford a yellow die. It is of very easy culture. It is generally propa- 

 gated by seeds, which, if suflered to dry before they are sown, will remain two years 

 in the soil, but which, if sown in the autumn immediately after gathering them, gene- 

 rally conic lip the following spring. Tlie best time for transplanting this shrub is in 

 October, as it begins to vegetate soon after Christmas. 



SPECIES n.-DAPHNE LAUREOLA. Linn. 



Plates MCCXLVI. MCCXLVII. 



Tiekh. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XT. Tab. DLV. Fig. 1179. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 418. 



Stem erect, branchecl or nearly simple. Leaves oblanceolate, coria- 

 ceous, evergreen. Flowers in small sliortly-stalked racemose clusters 

 from tlie axils of the leaves of the rosette at the apex of the stem and 

 branches. Tube of the perianth glabrous externally ; segments oval- 

 lanceolatej about half as long as the tube, which, however, is longer in 

 proportion to the Umb in the male than in the perfect flowers. Drupe 

 ovoid, black. 



In ^voods and thickets, in clay and chalky soils. Rather rare or 

 local, but widely distributed in England. Very rare in Scotland, and 

 having very slender claims to be considered native in that country, 

 being only found in ornamental woods. 



England [Scotland]. Slu'ub. Early Spring.. 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high, or rarely more, sparingly branched, with the 

 branches ascending or erect, clothed with }^ellowish grey bark, bare of 

 leaves except in the upper part. Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, very thick 

 in texture, subpetiolate, acute. Clusters numerous, on short stalks, 

 with 2 or 3 subherbaceous deciduous bracts. Flowers drooping, 

 fragrant, 3 to 8 in each cyme, subracemose, some of the flowers male, 

 others perfect. Rarely clusters are produced some distance down the 

 stem, as well as at the apex. As the stem or branch elongates by 

 the time the berries are ripe, they are left far below the apex of the 

 branch. Perianth nearly \ inch long, \ inch across, pale yellowish 

 green. Drupe .V inch long, pointed as in 1). Mezereum, greenish black, 

 very shortly stalked. Plant green, the leaves shining above, paler 

 beneafh, glabrous. 



