314 The Flora of Wiltshire. \_No. VI. cont.'] 



ORDER. RHAMNACE^. (JUSS.) 



Rhamnus, (Linn.) Buckthorn. 



Linn. CI. v. Ord. i. 



Name. Rhamnus (Gr.) a branch, from its numerous branches. 

 1. R. catharticus, (Linn.) cathartic Buckthorn. JEngl. Bot. t. 

 1629. 



Locality. Woods, hedges and thickets, especially on a chalky 

 soil. Sh. Fl. May, June. Area, 1. * * 4. 5. 

 South Division. 

 1. South-east District, " Landford woods," Mr. W. H. Hatcher. 

 "Amesbury," Dr. Southhy} 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, "Chippenham," Dr. Alexander Prior. 

 Common in hedges about Corsham and Slaughterford. "In a 

 wood behind the Horse and Jockey," Professor C. C^ Bahington. 

 "Kingsdown woods," Dr. Davis. " Hedges on Roundway," ilfws 

 Meredith. 



5. North-east District, " Woods at Great Bedwyn," Mr. William 

 Bartlett. 



Rare in the " South Division " according to the above area of 

 distribution. Extended observation will doubtless prove this species 

 to be not uncommon in Districts 1. 2. and 3. 



This shrub makes an excellent and handsome hedge-row, but it is 

 seldom employed in this country from the preference given to white- 

 thorn. Linneus is reported to have been very partial to it, and 

 had it planted in front of his country residence at Hammerby, near 

 Upsal. The juice of the berries made into a syrup was formerly 

 much used medicinally. It is now seldom or never prescribed by 

 regular practitioners. 



^ " Buckthorn very common in South "Wiltshire. The apothecaries make 

 great use of the berries, and the glovers use it, to colour their leather yellow." 

 (Aubrey's Nat. Hist, of Wiltshire, p. 56.) 



