CHAP. XXXV. 



iJHAMNATEiE. iJHAMNUS. 



537 



§ ii. Frangula Tourn. 



209 



Identification. Tourn. Inst., t. 383. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 26. ; Brongn. Mem. Rham., t. 55. 



Sect. Char, Flowers hermaphrodite, rarely dioecious, 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 JMill., ii. p. 32.) 



afc 23. R. carolinia'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. 



S]}ec. Char., c^-c. Erect. Leaves oval-oblong, almost entire, smooth. Umbels 

 stalked. Flowers hermaphrodite. Berries globose. (Z)oh'a- il/i//., ii. p. 32.) 

 A deciduous shrub, growing to the height of 6 ft., in woods and swamps, 

 in Virginia and Carohna. Introduced in 1819. It flowers in May and 

 June, and the berries are black, and'4-seeded. 



$ 24-. R, Fra'ngula L. The breaking Buckthorn, or Berry-bearing Alder. 



Identification. Lin. Spec., 280. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 32. 



Synony7nes. Nerprun Bourgene, Annenoir, Fr. glatter Wegdorn, Ger. 



Derivation. The name of Frangula, breaking, is applied to this species, from the brittleness of its 

 branches. 



Engraving.i. Eng. Hot., t. 250. ; (Ed. Fl. Dan., t. 278. ; our fig. 209. ; and the plate of the spe- 

 cies in Vol. II. 



Spec. Char., S,-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 pm-ple, 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 prefei-red 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. (Marti/n's Aliller.) 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. 



3f R. F. 2. angmtifoUa Hort., has narrower leaves. The plant of this 

 species in the Horticultural Society's Garden is very distinct, and, in 

 18.35, was 6 ft. high, after being 10 jears planted. 



