172 



ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



R. A. 7 fdliis argenteis. This variety, which is very conspicuous from 

 the large proportion of the leaves which is white, is more tender than 

 some of the others. It generally does best against a wall, and is well 

 worth a place there, on account of its splendid appearance, especially 

 in winter. 



In British gardens, this shrub is particularly valuable for the rapidity of its 

 growth in almost any soil and situation, more especially the narrow-leaved 

 variety. It is less injured by the smoke of coal than most other evergreens. 

 The species, and all the varieties, are readily pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, which are taken oiF in autumn, 

 and planted in sandy soil, in a shady border, and 

 covered with a hand-glass. As the roots are not 

 very productive of fibres, when large plants are 

 chosen, they should be such as have been reared in 

 pots, in order that they may receive no check from 

 removal. 



5!^ 2. 72. hy'bridus Z/'i^mY. The hybrid Alaternus. 



Identification. L'Herit. Sert., t. 5. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 23. ; Don's 



Mill , 2. p. 33. 

 Synonyme. R. burgundiacus Hort. Par. ; R. sempervlrens Hur- 



tulan. 

 Engravings. L'Hierit. Sert., t. 5. ; and our fig. 248. 



Sjjec. Char., ($-c. Leaves oblong, acuminated, ser- 

 rated, smooth, shining, hardly permanent, rather 

 coriaceous. Flowers androgynous. (Don^s Mill.) 

 A garden hybrid, a sub-evergreen shrub, raised 

 from R. alpinus, fecundated by R. Alaternus, and 

 forming a very distinct and desirable kind, which, 

 in British gardens, grows to the height of 10 or 

 12 feet. The flowers are green, and appear in May 



or June. 21s. fthamims hjlindus. 



B. 'Rha'mnus Dec. Flowers 4:-cleft, in Fascicles. 



a. 



Branchlets termiiiating in a Thorn. 



1 ^ 



3. R. catha'rticus L. The purging Buckthorn. 



Spec, 280. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 24. Don's 



Idcntmcation. Lin 



Mill., 2. p. 30. 

 Synonyme. The White Thorn of the modern Greeks. 

 Engravings. Eng. Bot., t. 1629. ; N. Du Ham., 2. t. 10. ; the 



plate of this species in Arb. Brit., 1st edit., vol. v. ; and tour 



fig. 249. 



Sfec. Char., Sfc. Erect. Leaves ovate, toothed. 

 Flowers in fascicles, polygamo-dioecious. Berries 

 4-seeded, rather globose. {^Doiis Mill.) A deci- 

 duous shrub or low tree. Europe and Britain, 

 in woods and thickets, on calcareous loamy soil. 

 Height 10 ft. to 12 ft.; in cultivation, 12 ft. to 

 15 ft. Flowers yellowish green, with very narrow 

 petals ; May. Berry black ; ripe in September. 

 Decaying leaves yellowish green. Naked young 

 wood whitish. 



The flowers are, for the most part, hermaphro- 

 dite, and in a wild state abundant and clustered ; 

 but in a state of cultivation they are fewer, and 

 nearly solitary. The juice of the unripe berries 

 is of the colour of saifron, and it is used for staining 

 maps or paper : they are sold under the name of 

 French berries. The juice of the ripe berries, mixed with alum, forms the sap 



249. Ali4mnus rathirticub. 



