THK BL'CKTH(_)RX. 12') 



in close set clusters and are dark red before the\' are 

 full\' developed. The carpellary llOwers are less so 

 because green predominates in them. As these flowers 

 have either on]\' stamens or carpels and both sexes are 

 without coloured en\'elopes the^' are not adapted to 

 insect fertilization but are \\ind fertilized. The "mastic", 

 famed of old, is obtained from the Mastic tree. It is, 

 however, not got from the sln'nbs of tlie Alaijuis but from 

 carefulh' cultivated trees. ^^Fhev succeed best on Chios, 

 which has for this reason been called "JNIastic island". The 

 gum which exudes from incisions made in the stem, and also 

 naturalU' from the twigs, is used chietlv in the East \^■here 

 it is chewed in the same wa\' as are the leaves of the 

 Betel in India. Mastic is said to strengthen the frums 

 and perfume the breath. H^urkish ladies o1 the njiper 

 class spend the \\hole chu- chewing mastic, ^^'ith us 

 mastic is used in tooth powder and especialh' for incense 

 and in the making of varnish. 



The evergreen Buckthorn [Jihainnus alatcnins. 

 Fig. p. .'i(i7), is also characteristic ot the Mac|uis. I'Larh- in 

 March this shrub bears dense bunches of small greenish- 

 \'ellow flowers, and later red berries, l^hese latter, how e\er. 

 are not foimd on ever\- bush as this plant also i.s dioecious. 

 Careful examination of the leather\' leaves of this I:)uck- 

 thorn will show at their base, in the angles of the vena- 

 tion, small protuberances on the upper side. The cavit\' 

 in these opens on the under side and is arched over 

 with hairs. These structures are called "domatia" because 

 the\' are usuallv occupied b}" minute insects to wjiich 

 the\' apparentlv afford shelter, 'i'he insects are said on 



