RHAMNACEJE. CO 



always uniovulate or biovulate, nor the invariable simple leaves 

 of the Rhamnaceœ. The Brunieœ, by us referred to the family of the 

 Saxifragacccc, have certainly the concave receptacle of most of the 

 Rhamnaceœ ; but besides their stamens being alternate with the 

 petals, the latter are developed, and the ovarian cells, often incom- 

 plete, enclose one or many descending ovules. Other Saxifragaceœ, 

 as the Hamamelideœ and the Codieœ, very closely allied to the 

 Brunieœ, resemble also certain Rhamnaceœ, but they have likewise 

 alternipetalous stamens and at least two descending ovules in each 

 cell. The Santalaceœ, with oppositipetalous stamens, like the 

 Rhamnaceœ, have the ovules inserted on a placenta centrally free, 

 or descending in ovarian cells more or less incomplete. 1 



Uses. 2 — "What we have said of the close affinities of the Celas- 

 traccœ and Rhamnaceœ agrees with what is known of the properties 

 of both. The latter are bitter, acrid and astringent. According 

 to the species or parts used, the Rhamnaceœ furnish évacuant or 

 tonic and febrifuge medicines. They are also frequently rich in 

 colouring matters, many of which are employed in the arts. Their 

 wood is analogous in structure and qualities to that of most of the 

 Celastraccœ. The Buckthorns are, in our country, the most active 

 of the Rhamnaceœ employed in medicine. The drupaceous fruit 

 of Rhamniis cartharticus 3 (fig. 39-41), wrongly designated as 

 Buckthorn berries, is especially used in country districts as an 

 energetic purgative. They have been employed as hydragogues ; 

 they have the inconvenience of greatly irritating the intestinal 

 mucous membrane, producing violent colic and sometimes vomiting. 

 They are generally prescribed in the form of a syrup prepared with 

 the green, bitter and nauseous pulp. They are frequently given to 

 animals. Several other species of Rhamnus might be substituted for 



1 In their organs of vegetation, the R/iam- 535. — Eosenth. Syn. PI. Diaphor, 798, 1151. 



naccic are sometimes very similar to certain 3 L. Spic. 279. — DC, Prodr. ii. 21, n. 9. — 



Eitphorbiaceœ, such as Bridelia. On the struc- Mer. et Del. Bid. Mat. Méd. vi. 54. — Glib. 



ture of the wood of the Rhamnaceœ, see : — op. cit. 537, fig. 722. — Berg et Schm. Darst. 



Crueoer, Bot. Zeit. (1S50), 126 (Guuania). — Off. Gctc. t. 16, e. — Cervispina cathartica 



Caei'Ent. Microsc. 433, c. fig. — Oliv. 6tcm. Mcench. Meth. 686. — Spina alba Lonic. — S. 



Dicot.W. infectoria Matth. (Noirprun, Bourg-épine, Que- 



- Endl. Enchirid. 582.— Line-l. PI. Mid. 165 ; mot, Epine de Cerf). 

 Yeg. Kingd. 582. — Guib. Drog. Simpl. éd. 6, iii. 



