136 BRITISH BOTANY. 



bark of the young shoots is green and smooth. Leaves glabrous, 

 oblong-acuminate, finely toothed, on short petioles. Flowers 

 subtended by subulate bracts, and in few-flowered cymes. Divi- 

 sions of the calyx spreading or reflexed. Petals oblong. Cap- 

 sules deep rose-red when ripe, with 3-4, rarely 5, very obtuse 

 lobes. Seeds white, covered by an orange-red fleshy aril. 

 Tree or hedge-shrub. Fl. May ; fr. September. 



RHAMNACEjE, Br. The Buckthorn Family. 



Small trees or shrubs, with alternate or fascicled (tufted) leaves, 

 which are more or less leathery and axillary, and tufted or nearly 

 solitary regular flowers, which are either perfect or of only one 

 sort by abortion. Sepals 4-5, united below, tubular and persis- 

 tent, valvular in prefloration. Petals 4-5, small, inserted on a 

 glandvilar disc, which invests the lower or tubular part of the 

 calyx, sometimes none by abortion. Stamens 4-5, inserted on 

 the disc with the petals, and opposite to them. Anthers in- 

 trorse. Ovary free, rarely cohering to the base of the calyx, with 

 2-4 carpels, and as many cells, with one ovule in each. Styles 

 2-4, united at their base or throughout their whole length. Fruit 

 a globular berry, containing 2-4 cartilaginous, one-seeded nuts, 

 rarely opening. Seed erect, usually with a deep dorsal groove. 

 Embryo straight. Radicle directed towards the hilum. 



Rhamnus, Liti. — Low trees, with abortive branches, which 

 often become spines. Leaves oblong or ovate, glabrous. Calyx 

 urceolate or campanulate, usually in four divisions (4-5-cleft). 

 Petals 4-5, very small, or abortive. Stamens 4. Style undi- 

 vided, or 2-4-cleft. Stigmas 2-4. Fruit globular, fleshy, con- 

 taining 2-4 one-seeded cartilaginous- coriaceous nuts. 



R. catharticus, Lin. Purging Buckthorn. — e.b. 1629. l.b.s. 

 246. 



A. 12. C. 40. Lat. 50-55°. Alt. 0-200 yds. Tern. 52-47°. 



Small tree or shrub, very much branched, usually with a spine 

 in the forks of the branches (an abortive branch) . Leaves ovate 

 or elliptical, sharply and regularly toothed, abruptly acuminate, 

 disposed in rosettes (tufts) on the flowering branches. Flowers 

 polygamous or dioecious, greenish-yellow, in tufts on the top of 

 the short lateral branches. Styles 2-S-cleft. Fruit black. 



