ALATERNUS. 



RHAMNUS ALATERNUS. 



RHAMNE.*. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



French, alaterne ; Italian, alaterno. 



THE Alaternus is an evergreen shrub, with fine glossy 

 leaves: the honey-breathing blossoms, as Evelyn terms 

 them, come out in May ; they are numerous, but very 

 small, and are very grateful to bees. 



It is a native of the south of Europe and Barbary, 

 and was introduced into this country in 1629. " I have 

 had the honour," observes the amiable Evelyn, " to be 

 the first who brought it into use and reputation in this 

 kingdom, for the most beautiful and useful of hedges and 

 verdure in the world (the swiftness of the growth con- 

 sidered), and propagated it from Cornwall even to Cum- 

 berland." 



Parkinson speaks of it as a rare plant in his time. 

 " The beauty and the verdure of the leaves," says he, 

 " abiding so fresh all the year, doth cause it to be of the 

 greater respect; and, therefore, findeth place in their 

 gardens only that are curious conservers of all Nature's 

 beauties."" 



The fresh young shoots will give a fine yellow colour 

 to wool; and the fishermen in Portugal dye their nets 

 red with a decoction of the bark. 



There is a variety called the Gold and Silver Alaternus ; 

 the leaves being striped with yellow and white ; but the 

 variations of colour in the foliage of shrubs usually pro- 

 ceed from want of strength. 



