42 
SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. 
RHAMNACE.X. 
remainder are peculiar to the Rocky-mountain and Pacific-coast region of the continent, ranging from 
British Columbia to Mexico,’ where five or six species at least have been detected, and to Guatemala. 
Ceanothus possesses few useful properties. 
The leaves, bark, and roots are astringent and tonic. 
The roots of Ceanothus Amcricanus are dark red, and yield a cinnamon-colored dye ; and the leaves of 
this species, which is still popularly known in some parts of the country as New Jersey Tea, are said to 
have been used as a substitute for tea-leaves during the Revolutionary War. 
The root was used by 
the Cherokee Indians as a remedy for syphilis, and a decoction of the seeds and leaves has been 
employed for dysentery,’ and in the treatment of ulceration of the mouth and throat. 
species are beautiful garden plants.’ 
Many of the 
Ceanothus is formed from xedvwos, a name given to some spiny plant by Theophrastus and trans- 
ferred by Linnzus to this genus. 
1 Hemsley, Bot. Biol. Am. Cent. i. 199. 
2 U.S. Dispens. ed. 14, 1609.— Stillé & Maisch, Nat. Dispens. 
ed. 2, 373. — Maisch, Organic Mat. Med. 98. 
8 Loudon, Arb. Brit. ii. 539.— Decaisne & Naudin, Manuel de 
Amateur des Jardins, iii. 81.— Nicholson, Dict. Gard. — Naudin, 
Manuel de l’ Acclimatzur, 193. 
Much attention has been paid for many years in the gardens of 
France to the improvement of Ceanothus by selection and hybridi- 
zation. Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles (Rev. Hort. 1868, 388 ; 1889, 
99), a seedling of the Mexican C. azureus (Desfontaines, Cat. 
1815, 232), obtained by Monsieur Christern of Versailles, is a plant 
of great ornamental value wherever the climate will permit of its 
being grown in the open air. A race of dwarf hardy Ceanothus, 
with abundant showy blue, white, or rose-colored flowers, has been 
produced by crossing the eastern C. Americanus with C. azureus, 
and perhaps with some of the Californian species (Jaume St. Hi- 
laire, Flore et Pomone, vi. t. 525. — Rev. Hort. 1875, 30). 
CONSPECTUS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ARBORESCENT SPECIES. 
Branchlets conspicuously angled ; leaves slightly pubescent on the lower surface 
Branchlets slightly angled ; leaves densely tomentose on the lower surface . . . . 
1. C. THYRSIFLORUS. 
2. C. VELUTINUS, var. ARBOREUS. 
