THE BUCKTHORN. 



407 



PLAN of BUCKTHORN (Catharticus) FLOWER. 



triangular in shape, and coloured a yellowish-green ; four stamens 

 pointing upwards alternate with the petals. The female flowers are of 

 similar construction, but the tour stamens of the male are replaced by 

 an ovary, with a four-branched stigma. The general form of the 

 fruit is that of a sphere a quarter ot an inch in diameter, with a 

 section as it were sliced off, so that where the stalk is inserted the 

 berry is flat. The young berries change from green to dull red, 

 and about the end of August, when they are fully ripe, become 

 soft and juicy and of a very glossy black. 



THE BRANCHES. 



The shoots usually end in a thorn, and growth is continued from 

 the uppermost pair of lateral buds, so that a fork is the result, the 

 thorn making as it were a third diminutive prong between the two 

 outer prongs or branches. Below the fork are other pairs of branches — 

 some well-formed, others stunted — all alike bearing traces, in wavy 

 well-marked rings, of the leafage of former seasons. The twigs are 

 numerous, and set close together ; they are clumsily formed, and taper 

 off abruptly to the terminal thorn or hud. The newly-formed 

 branchlets are a pale bronze, or reddish-green colour ; those of last 

 season are red-brown and smooth, while the older wood is rough 

 and of a very dark and dingy grey. 



