54.8 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



Description, ^-c. The species bears a gene- 

 ral resemblance to the two preceding ones, 

 in summer, when they are clothed with foliage; 222 

 but it differs from them in being evergreen, and 

 in having the leaves much smaller. Fabricius 

 has observed that the male plant sometimes 

 produces hermaphrodite flowers, with three sta- 

 mens and five styles. Gouan has remarked 

 that the buds in this species are different from 

 what they are in the other sorts ; the branch- 

 bearing buds being terminal, and the flower buds 

 axillary. The leaves have sometimes 5 leaflets 

 on each side ; and the petioles are so much 

 winged as to appear like pinnae. The tree is a 

 native of the south of Europe, and the north of 

 Africa. It grows to the height of 20 ft., and is cultivated in gardens, as 

 well as being found in a wild state. Desfontaines, who travelled in Bar- 

 bary, states that the tree in that country, though punctured as it is in the 

 Island of Scio, yet does not yield mastich ; but that the wood gives out an 

 aromatic smell when burned, and the berries yield an oil fit both for the lamp 

 and for the table. The great source of the mastich of commerce is the Island 

 of Scio, where it is obtained from the trees in the same manner as the 

 Chian turpentine. The quantity produced there averages, according to Oli- 

 vier, 125,000 lb. annually : but, according to MaccuUoch, the annual produce is 

 1500 cwt. The tree was introduced into British gardens in 1654; but it is 

 not very common tiiere. It is not so hardy as P. Tferebinthus, and should 

 always be planted against a wall. 



i 4. P. atla'ntica Desf. The Mount Atlas Mastich, or Turjjentine Tree. 



Identification. Desf. Atl., 2. p. 3&t. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. &t. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 66. 



Spec. Char., SfC. Leaves deciduous, impari-piiinate. The leaflets about 9, lanceolate, a little tapered 



at the base. The petiole between the terminal pairs of leaflets somewhat winged. {Dec. Prod., 



ii. p. 64.) A native of sandy places in B.nrbary and about Constantinople. 

 Variety. J P. a. 2 lali/olia Dec. Prod., 2. p. 64 , has leaflets rounded, broader at the base than those 



of the species. It was found in the Isle of Scio by Olivier. 



Description, c^c. The species is a deciduous tree, with a large roundish 

 head, growing to the height of 40 ft. in Barbary, near Coffa, not far from 

 Mount Atlas ; where, from being found in rows, it appears to have been in a 

 state of cultivation. The variety with broad leaves is founcfin the Island of 

 Scio, and also about Constantinople. The drupe of this tree is about the 

 same size as that of the Pistacia jTerebinthus ; but the tree seems to be rather 

 more prolific of resin. Desfontaines, who discovered this species, and first 

 described it, says that the resin oozes from the trunk and branches at differ- 

 ent seasons of the year, but especially in summer; and that, in property, in 

 smell, and in taste, it is scarcely to be distinguished from Oriental mastich. 

 The Arabs collect it in autumn and winter, and chew it to improve their 

 breath, and give brightness to their teeth ; and the Moors eat the fruits, and 

 bruise them to mix with their dates. This tree is rarely to be met with in 

 British gardens. 



Genus II. 



^J 



7?HU'S L. The Rhus, or SuM.iCH. Lin. Syst. Pentandria Trigynia and 

 Dioe^cia Pentandria. 



Identification. Lin. Gen., 369. ; Lam UL, t. 207. ; Kunth Gen. Tereb., p. 5. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 66. 

 Don's Mill., 2. p. 61. and p. 69. 



Derivation. From rhoos, or rhous, Greek, which is derived from rhudd, a synonjrme of rud, Celtic, 

 red ; in allusion to the colour of the fruit and leaves of some of the species in autumn. (Don's 

 Mill. ii. p. 69.) Dcnnegan has given the following e.xplanation of the word rhvu$ : — " A species of 



