1100 ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 
acute at both ends, branches loose. J. flexudsus Mill. No. 6., Pro- 
fessor Martyn thinks, is probubly this variety. 
The stems do not flower till the second year ; after which they die down to 
the ground, like those of the raspberry, and some species of Smilax and Aspa- 
ragcus. The leaves are a continuation of the branches ; equally firm and 
equally durable, as they never drop off, but die along with the branch, or 
frond. The roots are thick, fleshy, white, branching at the crown, and after- 
wards twining about each other, and putting out-frequent 
fibres, like those of the asparagus ; oblique, and striking 
deep into the ground. The female flowers are succeeded 
by bright red berries, which are almost as large as wild 
cherries, and of a sweetish taste ; having two large 
orange-coloured seeds in each, gibbous on one side, flat 
on the other, and extremely hard. The green shoots 
are cut, bound in bundles, and sold to the butchers for 
sweeping their blocks; whence the popular English 
name of butcher’s broom. It is also used, in London, 
by the manufacturers of cigars, &c., for sprinkling the 
saline liquor over the tobacco leaves. The tender young 
shoots, in spring, are sometimes gathered and eaten by 
the poor, both in England and France, like those of 
asparagus. Planted under trees or shrubs, the Riascus 
aculeatus will spread into large clumps, especially in loamy 
soil; and, as it retains its leaves all the winter, it has a good effect as a low 
undergrowth, more especially as it will live in situations so shady as to be 
unfit for almost any other plant. 
+ 
2060. R. aculeatus. 
« 2. R.aypopuy’tLum LZ. The under-leaf Ruscus, or broad-leaved 
Butcher's Broom. 
Identification. Lin. Sp., 1474.; Ait. Hort., ed. 2., 5. p. 420. 
Synonymes. R. latifolius, &c., Tourn. Inst.79.; Latrus alexandrina 
Lob. Adv., &c. 509. ; Fragon sans Foliole, Fy. ; breitblattriger Mau- 
sedorn, Ge7v.; Borifaccia Zéal. 
Engravings. Bot. Mag., 2040.; and our fig. 2061. 
Spec, Char., §&c. Flowers produced underneath the 
leaves. (Willd.) A low evergreen shrub. Italy 
and Africa. Height 2ft. to 3ft. Introduced in 
1683. Flowers whitish ; May and June. Berries 
red, about the size of those of the common juni- 
per; ripe in September and October. 
Variety. 
«« R. h, 2 trifoliatum. R. trifoliatus Mill. No. 5. 
—Leaves ovate-acuminate, placed by threes, 
with flowers on their upper sides. It isa na- 
tive of Zante, and some other of the Greek 
islands, where it grows about 2ft. high. 2061. R. hypophyllum. 
3, R. (n.) Hypoeto'ssum L. The Under-tongue Ruscus, or doudle- 
leaved Butcher’s Broom, 
Identification. Lin. Sp., 1474.; Ait. Hort. Kew., 5. p. 421. 
Synonymes. R. angustifvlius, &c. Tourn. Inst. 79.; Hypogléssum 
Lob, Adv. 284.; Uvularia Brunf. 3. 96, 97.; Fragon a Foliole, Fr. ; 
Zungen Mausedorn, Ger. ; Lingua pagana, Ital. 
Engravings. Lob. Adv. Ic., 638. ; Barrel. Ic., 250.; Blackw., t. 128. ; 
and our fig. 2062. 
Spec. Char., Sc. Leaves floriferous underneath, with 
leaflet. (Willd.) A low evergreen shrub. _ Italy, 
Idria, Hungary; and Africa, about Algiers. Height 
8 ft. to 10 ft. Introduced in 1596. Flowers pale 
yellow; April and May. Berries red, almost as 
large as those of A.aculeatus ; ripening in winter. 2062. R. Hypogléssum. 
