SEA BUCKTHORN. 92 



Sea Buckthorn (Hippophcz rhamnoides). 



Let us say at once that this plant is in no way related to the 

 Buckthorns, properly so called. It is another example of the 

 readiness with which our fathers seized upon a mere super- 

 ficial resemblance as justification for the partial repetition 

 of a name, and to save them the trouble of finding a new one. 



Sea Buckthorn is the sole representative in this country of 

 the Natural Order Elasagnaceae, and is a low shrubby tree, 

 growing on sand-hills and cliffs on the East and South-east 

 coasts from York to Sussex. The branches commonly end in 

 a spine, which has brought the plant its alternative name of 

 Sallow-thorn. The alternate leaves are a dull leaden green 

 above, but the underside is covered with silvery scales. At 

 first they are egg-shaped, but lengthen after the plant has 

 flowered. The flowers are of two kinds, borne on separate 

 plants (dicecious), one kind containing stamens only, the other 

 a pistil alone. The staminate flowers are produced in clusters 

 from the axils, and consist of two sepals with four stamens. 

 The pistillate flowers are produced singly. The ovary is 

 enclosed in the calyx-tube, and develops into the globose 

 orange-yellow fruits. Flowers from May to July. 



The fruits do not appear to be used in this country ; though 

 in Tartary they are said to be made into a pleasant jelly, and 

 in the Gulf of Bothnia they are used in the concoction of a 

 fish-sauce. Their flavour is decidedly acid. 



The name has been derived from the Greek hippos, a horse, 

 and phao, to give light, from a supposed power of curing 

 equine blindness ; also from hippos, ?c&diphao, to destroy, from 

 its fatal effects when eaten by horses ; and from hypo, under, 

 and phao, to shine, in allusion to the silvery underside of the 

 leaf. The reader will kindly select that which seems the most 

 reasonable or reject them all. 



