162 AMERICAN HANDBOOK 



thrive pretty well in dry, gravelly soils, pro- 

 vided they be not on a bleak exposure. In- 

 deed, it seems to love company, and, when 

 that is the case, is not over-fastidious about 

 the quality of the soil. It may be propa- 

 gated as the common hornbean. The best 

 Bartram specimen is fifty-four feet high and 

 three feet six inches in circumference. 



PALIUKUS, Tournefort. Nat. Ord. Eham- 

 naceae. Pentandria, Trigynia, Linn. Ca- 

 lyx 5. Petals 5, upon a glandular disk 

 adnate to the calyx. Fruit dry, girded with 

 a broad membranous wing; 3 -celled. Seeds 

 ovate. 



P. ACULEATUS, Lamarck. Leaves ovate, ser- 

 rulate, smooth, 3-nerved, with two spines at 

 the base, one straight, the other recurved. 

 Christ's Thorn. Native of the south of 

 Europe. 



A small tree, of a very erect habit of 

 growth, and bluish, shining leaves. The 

 large spines are among the peculiarities that 

 give it prominence. It thrives well in dry, 

 gravelly soils, or in the deepest shade. It 

 usually sends up occasional suckers, by 



