RHAMNACE^v. 



87 



Preparation and 6',sc. — The small hraiichos arc cut or broken from the 

 tree; they are thrown upon a wire gauze over a tire and thus dried; the 

 leaves and twigs are then bruised or ground in a rude mill, which reduces 

 the whole to powder. It is theu packed in green bullock-hides, making pack- 

 ages of about 200 ])Ounds each, and thus sent to market. 



^\Jarts. It is carried to Itaguy, on the Uruguay, and to the ports of 



Porto Algre, Uruguay, and Paraguay. From the last three ports about 

 13,000,000 pounds are annually exported. 



Order XVII. RHAMNACE^. 



Flowers perfect, or defective, regular, perigynous. Sepals, petals, 

 and stamens 4-5. frequently apetalous ; stamens alternate with the 

 valvate sepals, and opposite to the petals. Fruit a 1-seeded capsule. 

 Trees and shrubs. 



Number of genera, 37. 



RHAMNUS, L. (Buckthorn.) Calyx pitcher-shaped, from 4-5-cleft. 

 Petals notched, sometimes wanting. No. of styles, 2-4, partially 

 united. Drupe with 2-4 cartilaginous nuts. Leaves opposite or alter- 

 nate. Flowers in clusters, axillary. Shrubs and small trees. 



R. infectorius, L. (Yellow Berries.) Stem made up of ramifications com- 



mencing to branch at the root, subprocumhent ; the assurgent, spiny branches 



rising to the height of 2 feet. Leaves 



ovate-lanceolate, serrulate, smoothish, and 



deciduous. Flowers dicecious; petals in 



both sexes greenish-yellow. Fruit 3-seeded, 



black when ripe, but harvested when green, 



to be used for a dye by calico printers. 

 Geography. — This plant grows as far 



north as England, though it properly be- 

 longs to a more southern climate. Its 



native haunts are southern Persia and 



southern countries of the Levant. The 

 fruit is known in commerce also as Persian 

 berries. 



R. chlorophorus and K. utilis are natives 



of China. Their fruit yields a fine green 



dye for silk, which is imported into Euroi)e 



under the name of Chinese Green Indigo. 



Eti/molof/}/. — R/iamiiiis is derived from 



tuft of branches. The specific name come; .....-- 



tinge, or paint. Buclthorv, the common name of the genus, is not easily ex- 

 plained. Indeed it is difficult to comprehend why the name is applied to the 

 plant. Some suppose it is due to its crooked stems, which re.>*emhle the horns 

 of the buck. It is also known under the name of Yellow Berries, on account 

 of the color produced by the fruit. 



/f/.s/or^. _ The home of the Rhamnus infectorius. the Staininq bnckthorn, 

 is Persia, Syria, and southern Europe. It is cultivated in Turkey and the 



Rhamnus infectorius (Yellow Berries). 



the Celtic word ram, a bunch or 

 from the I^atin word inficio, color, 



