RUAMNACE.l^,. 225 



stalked, 1 to 4 inches long, rather firm, deciduous. Peduncles 1 to 

 2 inches long, hearing a dichotomous cyme of greenish-white 

 flowers ahout ^ ii^t-li across. Capsule generally 4-lohed, f inch 

 long, pale crimson when ripe, eacli of the 4 cells containing a seed 

 which is covered hy a hright reddish-orange arillus with an uneven 

 surface. 



The examples from the Great Eoss, Kirkcudbright, have the 

 leaves much larger and thinner than those of the common form, 

 and belong to the variety macrophyllus of Schleicher, which I have 

 not gathered anywhere else. 



Spindle Tree. 



It is also called in Ireland Pegwood, Gatteridge Tree, House-Beny, and Prickwood. 

 French, Fusain (TEurope. German, Eii/ropiiisches Pfaffenkcippchen. 



In France this shrub is also sometimes called " Bonnet du Pretre " from the form 

 of the seed-vessel, which opens as the seeds ripen ; the covering of the seeds then 

 exhibiting a beautiful example of the arillus. 



The French word Fusain, by which it is commonly known, means a spindle or 

 skewer, and alludes to the general use of the wood for making these instruments. The 

 common English name, Prickwood or Prick-timber, refers to the same fact; and another 

 popular name. Dogwood, is given to it, because a decoction of the leaves has been often 

 used to wash dogs to free them from vermin. The hai'dness of the wood of this tree 

 recommends it for many useful purposes besides the chief one of making skewers for 

 butchers and others. In Germany the shoots are bored and made into pipe-stems. 

 When burned in a close vessel they form an excellent charcoal for artists, better than 

 the ordinary sort on account of the lines traced with it being easily effaced. The fruits 

 of the tree have been employed by dyers, and they yield three distinct colours — green, 

 yellow, and red. Being boiled with alum a green colour is produced, alone with water 

 a yellow dye is formed, and the red capsules themselves give out a red colour. A 

 decoction of the capsules in alkali is said to colour hair red, and the leaves dried and 

 powdered had at one time a reputation for destroying vermin in children's heads. The 

 fruit is believed to be purgative and emetic in a great degree, but it is eaten by the 

 thrush and the blackbird, and probably by other birds. In plantations and in gardens 

 these shrubs are very ornamental, and in the autumn "they spread by their numerous 

 pendent capsules of a bright red colour or pure white, and their white and orange- 

 coloured seeds, some rays of brilliance on the departing season, and recall the remem- 

 brance of the fine days of summer." 



OEDER XXIIL— RHAMNACE^. 



Trees or shrubs (very rarely herbs), erect or climbing, often 

 thorny, very seldom with tendrils or glands. Leaves simple, 

 generally stipulate, alternate or opposite, often leathery, fi-equently 

 3- or 5-nerved, entire or serrate. Stipules small, generally deci- 

 duous, sometimes represented by spines. Flowers commonly 



VOL. II. 2 G 



