No. 14.] FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS. 275 



Common. Moist or wet, mostly shaded places. July — 

 Sept. 



A form with pale yellow flowers occurs at Thompson 

 (Weatherby & Bissell). 



The plant bears cleistogamous fertile flowers in the earlier 

 stages of its growth. Medicinal ; it is said also to be effica- 

 cious in relieving the effects of poisoning by species of Rhus 

 and stinging nettles. 



RHAMNACEAE. BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 

 RHAMNUS L. Buckthorn. 



Rhamnus alnifolia L'Her. (alder-leaved). 

 Dwarf Alder. 



Rare or local. In swamps: Litchfield (Weatherby & 

 Bissell), Cornwall (E. E. Brewster), Norfolk (Bissell), 

 Salisbury (M. L. Fernald), East Granby (Harger). May. 



Rhamnus cathartica L. (cathartic). 

 Common Buckthorn. 



Rare or local. Escaped from cultivation to roadsides and 

 pastures: Stonington, Lebanon, Woodstock and Stafford 

 (Graves), Norwich (Mrs. E. E. Rogers), Middletown (J. 

 D. Cochrane), East Hartford (C. C. Hanmer), Water- 

 bury (A. E. Blewitt), New Milford and Kent (C. K. 

 Averill), Cornwall and Norfolk (Bissell), Salisbury (Mrs. 

 C. S. Phelps). May — June. Naturalized from Europe. 



A good hedge plant. The berries and bark are actively 

 cathartic. Another species of this genus, Rhamnus Purshiana 

 DC. of western North America, furnishes the well known 

 Cascara sagrada. 



CEANOTHUS L. Red-root. 



Ceanothus americanus L. 



New Jersey Tea. Red-root. 



Common. Dry, open woods and fields in sterile soil. 

 June— July. 



The leaves are said to have been used during the American 

 revolution as a substitute for tea. The root and leaves were 

 formerly used for dying wool red. Medicinal. 



