CHAP. XXXV. RHAMNA‘CEE. RHA’MNUS. 537 
§ ii. Frdngula Tourn. 
alls 
Identification. Tourn. Inst., t. 383.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 26.; Brongn. Mém, Rham., t. 55. 
Sect. Char. Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely dicecious, 5-cleft, sometimes 
4-cleft. Seeds smooth, compressed, with the hilum white and exserted, 
and with the raphe lateral, on the surface of the inner testa. Embryo flat. 
Leaves membraneous, caducous, quite entire, lined with approximate parallel 
nerves. (Don’s Mill., ii. p. 32.) 
# 23. R. carouinia'Nus Walt. The Carolina Buckthorn. 
Identification. Walt. Car., p.101.; Pursh, 1.166.; Michx. Fl. Amer., 1. p. 153.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 26. ; 
Don’s Mill., 2. p. 32. 
Spec. Char., §c. Erect. Leaves oval-oblong, almost entire, smooth. Umbels 
stalked. Flowers hermaphrodite. Berries globose. (Don’s Mill., ii. p. 32.) 
A deciduous shrub, growing to the height of 6 ft., in woods and swamps, 
in Virginia and Carolina. Introduced in 1819. It flowers in May and 
June, and the berries are black, and 4-seeded. 
¥ 24. R. Fra’neuta L. The breaking Buckthorn, or Berry-bearing Alder. 
Identification. Lin. Spec., 280. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 32. 
Synonymes. Nerprun Bourgene, Aune noir, Fr. glatter Wegdorn, Ger. 
Derivation. The name of Frangula, breaking, is applied to this species, from the brittleness of its 
branches. 
Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 250. ; C&d. Fl. Dan., t. 278. ; our jig. 209.; and the plate of the spe- 
cies in Vol, II. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves oval, quite entire, lineated 
with 10 or 12 lateral nerves, and, as well as the calyx, 
smooth. Flowers hermaphrodite. (Don's Mill., ii. 
p- 32.) A deciduous. shrub, or low tree, with stems 
from 3 to 5 ft. high, in a wild state; but, in cultivation, 
attaining more than double that height. The branches 
are numerous, alternate, leafy, round, smooth, and 
blackish. The flowers are whitish, with purple anthers, 
and the berries are dark purple, each with two large 
seeds. A native of Europe, and part of Siberia, in 
Asia, in woods and thickets. It is not uncommon in 
England, but rare in Scotland. It is common in all 
the north of Russia, in Siberia, and Caucasus, and in 
Taurida. The berries are used by the Russians for dyeing 
yellow, and the bark for dyeing a tawny colour. From a quarter to half an 
ounce of the inner bark, boiled in small beer, is a sharp purge. In dropsies, 
or constipation of the bowels in cattle, it is a very certain purgative. The 
berries are also purgative, like those of the common buckthorn. These, 
gathered before they are ripe, dye wool green and yellow; when ripe, blue 
grey, blue, and green. The bark dyes yellow, and, with a preparation of 
iron, black. The flowers are particularly grateful to bees. Goats devour 
the leaves voraciously, and sheep will eat them. The charcoal prepared 
from the wood is preferred by the makers of gunpowder to any other. The 
berries of this species, and also of the cornel, are said to have been for- 
merly brought to market for those of the common buckthorn. They are 
easily distinguished ; the true buckthorn having 4 seeds, and this only 2; 
and the cornel one nut enclosing two kernels. (Martyn’s Miller.) The plant 
of this species in the garden of the London Horticultural Society was, in 
1835, 8 ft. high, after being 10 years planted; and that at Messrs. Lod- 
diges was still higher in 1833, but it has been since cut down. 
Variety. 
* R. F. 2. angustifolia Hort., has narrower leaves. The plant of this 
species in the Horticultural Society’s Garden is very distinct, and, in 
1835, was 6 ft. high, after being 10 years planted. 

