CHAP, XXXV. RHAMNA‘CEX. GEANO‘THUS. 539 
Genus V. 
lalla! 
CEANO‘THUS ZL. Tue Ceanornus, or RED Root. Lin. Syst. 
Pentandria Monogynia. 
Identification. Brongn. Mém. Rham., p. 62. ; Hook. Fl. Bor. Amer., 1. p. 124.; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 31. ; 
Don’s Mill., 2. Me 37. ° 
Synonymes. Rhamnus species L., Juss., Lam. ; Céanothe, Fr.; Sakebbaum, Ger. 
Derivation. From keandthus, a name employed by Theophrastus to designate a spiny plant, derived 
from ked, to cleave: the modern genus has, however, nothing to do with the plant of Theophrastus. 
The English name red root is given to the plant in America, from the red colour of the roots, 
which are of a large size in proportion to the branches. 
Description, $c. Deciduous shrubs, with large red roots, herbage generally 
pubescent, with numerous erect branches, seldom exceeding 3 ft. or 4 ft. in 
height, but, in one or two cases, attaining the height of 6 ft. or 8 ft., with 
alternate, serrated, 3-nerved leaves, and white, blue, or yellow flowers, in ter- 
minal panicles, or in axillary racemes. They are chiefly natives of North 
America, very ornamental in British gardens, and easily propagated by cuttings 
of the young wood, planted in sand, and covered with a hand-glass. Most of 
the species produce seeds freely in British gardens, and they all grow in any 
common garden soil. 
# 1,C. azu‘reus Desf. The azure-flowered Ceanothus, or Red Root, 
Identification. Desf. Cat., 1815, p. 252. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p.31.; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 37. 
Synonymes. C, cerileus Lag. Gen. et Spec., 1816., p. 11., Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 110.; C. bicolor Wiild. 
in Schult. Syst., 7. p. 65. r. Fs oh 
Engravings. Bot. Reg., t. 291. ; Lodd. Bot. Cab., t.110,; and our 4g. 213, ary ‘ 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves ovate-oblong, obtuse, acutely 
serrated, smooth above, hoary and downy beneath. 
Thyrse elongated, axillary, with a downy rachis. Pe- 
dicels smooth. (Don’s Mill., ii. p. 37.) A very hand- 
some shrub, with brilliant celestial blue flowers in 
large panicles; a native of Mexico, where its bark 
is considered as a febrifuge. Introduced in 1818. 
It is the most robust-growing species of the genus, 
attaining, in 3 or 4 years from seed, the height of 
5 ft. or 6 ft. or more, against a wall. It was at first 
treated as a green-house plant, but lately it has been 
found to be nearly as hardy as the North American 
species. There is a plant in the Botanic Garden at 
Kew which has stood out 10 years; one in the Lew- 
isham Nursery which has stood out 4 years as a stand- 
ard; and one in the Fulham Nursery, 10 ft. in extent, 
which stands out without any protection whatever. 
2 2.C.americaA‘nus LZ. The American Ceanothus, or Red Root; or New 
Jersey Tea. 
Identification. Lin. Spec., 281. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p.31.; Hook. Fl. Bor. 
Amer., 1. p. 124. ; Don’s Mill., 2. p. 37. 
Engravings. Duh, Arb.,1.t. 51.; Mill. Ic, t. 57.; Bot. Mag., t. 1497. ; 
and our jig. 214. 
Spec. Char., §c. Leaves ovate, acuminate, serrated, 
pubescent beneath. Thyrse elongated, axillary, with 
a pubescent rachis. (Don’s Mill., ii. p. 37.) A shrub, 
from 2 ft. to 4 ft. high; a native of North America, 
in dry woods from Canada to Florida. Introduced 
in 1713. The leaves and stems of the plant are pu- @ 
bescent ; the flowers are small and white; but, being [~ 
produced in great numbers together, are very orna- 
mental. They appear in June and July, and are 
succeeded by bluntly triangular fruits, and, about 
London, in fine seasons, it ripen seeds. It is abun- 
dant in most parts of North America, where it is 


¢ 
