Ilex.} ILICINE^E. 71 



1. RHAMNUS, Linn. Buckthorn. 



Calyx urceolate, 4 5-cleft. Petals 4 5, sometimes wanting. 

 Stamens opposite the petals. Berry 2 4-celled, 2 4-seeded. 

 Name />a/t>os, in Greek, a branch, from its numerous branches. 



Pentandria. Monogynia. 



1. R. catharticus, Linn. Common Buckthorn. Spines termi- 

 nal ; flowers 4-cleft, dioecious ; leaves ovate, sharply serrated. 

 Br. Fl. 1. p. 104. E. Fl v. i. p. 327. E. Bot. t. 1629. 



Woods, hedges, and thickets. Islands in Lough Erne, near Ennis- 

 killen. On a limestone rock east side of the Lee, two miles above 

 Cork ; Mr. J. Drummond. Fl. May, June. 1? . A spreading 

 shrub. Leaves with four or six lateral nerves parallel with the margin 

 or rib ; serratures glandular. Flowers in dense fascicles. Berries 

 black, nauseous, powerfully cathartic. They afford a yellow dye in 

 an unripe state ; the bark a green dye. " Seeds ovate, acute at the 

 lower extremity, rounded at the back, with two flat sides, forming the 

 internal angle. Embryo with kidney-shaped cotyledons, laterally 

 bent, surrounded by the albumen." ( Wilson.) 



2. R. Frangula, Linn. Berry-bearing Alder, or Alder Buck- 

 thorn. Unarmed; flowers perfect; leaves obovate, entire. Br. 

 FL I. p. 104. E. Fl. v. i. p. 328. E. Bot. t. 250. 



In a small island called the Creagh Bog in Lough Beg, County of 

 Derry, along with the last ; Mr. D. Moore. FL May. I? . A small 

 shrub. Flowers pedunculate, axillary, somewhat fascicled, whitish- 

 green. Petals very minute. Berries dark purple, with two seeds, 

 purgative. 



ORD. 24. ILICINE^. Brongn. LindL Holly Family. 



Sepals 4 6, imbricated in aestivation. Petals cohering at the 

 base, hypogynous, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens alternate 

 with the petals, inserted into the corolla ; filaments erect ; an- 

 thers adnate. Disk none. Ovarium fleshy, somewhat trun- 

 cate, with from 2 6 cells ; ovula solitary, pendulous, from a 

 cup-shaped funiculus ; stigma subsessile, lobed. Fruit fleshy, 

 indehiscent, with from 2 to 6 stones. Seed suspended, nearly 

 sessile ; albumen large, fleshy ; embryo small, 2-lobed, lying 

 next the hilum, with minute cotyledons, and a superior radicle. 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate or opposite, coriaceous. Flowers 

 small, axillary, solitary or fascicled. 



1. ILEX. Linn. Holly. 



Calyx 4 5 toothed. Corolla rotate, 4 5 cleft. Stigmas 4, 

 sessile. Berry spherical, including four 1-seeded nuts. (Some 



