Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 457 



Rhagodia Billardieri, R. Brown. 



Extra-tropical Australia. An important bush for binding moving 

 sands on sea-shores. Resists the severest gales as well as the spray 

 of the sea. Browsed on by pastoral animals. 



Rhagodia nutans, R. Brown. 



Southern, Eastern and Central Australia. This is a good fodder- 

 herb for saltbush-runs. R. linifolia is similarly important [Alex. 

 Hamilton], Further may be mentioned R. spinescens (R. Brown), 

 the spineless variety of which is greedily eaten by horses, cattle and 

 sheep, according to Mrs. Biddulph. The rather tall and bulky R. 

 hastata (R. Br.) is equally valuable [Rev. Dr. Woolls]. Mr. W. A. 

 Dixon found the proportion of saline substance in this plant very 

 large. Some other species, mostly shrubby, are equally valuable. 



Rhamnus Alaternus, Lmn. 



Countries round the Mediterranean Sea. A hedge-shrub, becoming 

 arborescent, thus gaining a height of 20 feet. It strikes readily from 

 cuttings. Gr. Don admits it as a splendid honey-plant. 



Rhamnus alnifolia, L'H^ritier. (R. Purshiana, D.C.) 



From California to Oregon and British Columbia. Allied to R. 

 Carolinianus (Walter). Reaches a height of about 20 feet. Leaves 

 deciduous. This species furnishes as " Cascara Sagrada " its bark, 

 famed for cathartic properties ; about 300,000 Ibs. are at present 

 annually used therapeutically; the fruits are also powerfully aperient. 

 R. Californica (Chamisso) acts similarly, according to Dr. J. G. 

 Steele. R. crocea (Nuttall) has also some medicinal virtue. 



Rhamnus cathartica, C. Bauhin. 



The Buckthorn. Middle and Southern Europe, North-Africa, 

 Middle Asia. It can be utilised as a hedge-plant. The berries are 

 of medicinal value, as indicated by the specific name. The foliage 

 and bark can be employed for the preparation of a yellow and green 

 dye ; the juice of the fruit mixed with alum constitutes the " sap- 

 green " of painters. The plant is hardy in Norway to lat. 60 48'. 

 R. Dahurica (Pallas) is a closely cognate species. 



Rhamnus chlorophora, Lindley. 



China. From the bark a superior green pigment is prepared. R. 

 utilis, from the same country, serves for the like purpose. This kind 

 of dye is particularly used for silk, and is known as Lokao. 



Rhamnus Frangnla, Linne. 



Europe, North-Africa, Northern and Western Asia. Endures the 

 climate of Norway to lat. 64 30' [Schuebeler]. A tall shrub with 

 deciduous leaves. The flowers are particularly grateful to bees [G-. 



