COMBRETACEiE. 131 



is said to have arisen from the fact that a sauce made of gooseberries was 

 eateu with roast goose. Another derivation is from (/raise, a lierry (old French), 

 corrupted into gooseberry. 



History. — The gooseberry, like the currant, lias no history which points to 

 its first introduction into the garden. The fruit arrives at its greatest perfection 

 as to (juality in the Scottish highlands ; but as to size, the operatives in the fac- 

 tories of Lancashire, in England, raise in their little gardens the largest goose- 

 berries known. Specimens have been exhibited measuring 2 inches in diameter. 

 The large varieties do not arrive at perfection in the United States. The 

 climate of England, and the damp, cool atmosphere, seem exactlv suited to 

 their full devek)pment, while the hot suns of the northern United States seem 

 to induce a mould that prevents perfection in the fruit while the plant nour- 

 ishes. The great berries grown in England do not possess the high Havor of 

 the smaller berry grown in Scotland. 



Use. — The gooseberry is well known, and almost as common as the currant 

 in our gardens. 



It is used in a green state for pies, puddings, and tarts. When quite ripe, 

 the fruit is used as a table dessert. It is also canned, preserved in sugar, and, 

 when nearly ripe, bottled in water. It is set in a vessel of cold water, brought 

 to a boiling heat, then corked and kept in a cool cellar, with the neck of the 

 bottle down. In this way it will keep for an indefinite period. It is also a 

 favorite fruit for making jam. 



Marts. — The markets, like those of the currant, are local. 



Order XXIV. COMBRETACE.^. 



Flowers perfect, or occasionally imperfect by arrest, in axillary or 

 terminal spikes, racemes, or heads ; a bract to each tiower, al.so '2 

 lateral opposite bractlets. Calyx superior, 4-5-lobed, valvate in the 

 bud. Corolla sometimes absent; when present, the petals equal in 

 number the parts of the calyx. Stamens are inserted alternately with 

 the petals on the calyx, and are either equal in number to the parts 

 of the corolla, or double. Ovary inferior, with 2-5 pendulous ovules, 

 1-celled. Fruit a drupe, or berry ; seed solitary, frequently winged ; 

 testa thin, membranous. Leaves alternate or opposite, simple, penni- 

 nerved, entire or toothed, leathery. Trees or shrubs, sometimes 

 climbing. Number of genera, 7. 



TERMINALIA, L. Flowers polygamous. Calyx tube cylindrical, 

 adherent to the ovary, contracted above ; limb bell-shaped, A-'y- 

 toothed, deciduous; corolla wanting. Stamens 10, in.serted on the 

 calyx ; filaments awl-shaped ; anthers 2-valved, egg-shaped or globu- 

 lar, opening lengthwise. Ovary inferior, 1-valved ; ovules 2-;i. Style 

 awl-shaped ; stignui sharp. Large trees. 



1. T. chebula, Ketz. (Myrobalans.) Trunk 40 to 70 feet in height, regu- 

 larly branched, in verticils, forming a symmetrical head. Leaves ovate, on 

 short petioles, alternate, entire or slightly toothed, collected at the ends of 

 the branchlets, spotted. Flowers in spikes or racemes. Fruit a drupe, about 

 the size of a i)ruMe. 



