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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



EHAMNUS 



BERCHEMIA.— This genus contains 

 about 10 species of erect or often high- 

 climbing shrubs, having alternate stalked 

 leathery, feather-veined leaves, and small 

 deciduous stipules. The small flovcers 

 (which are sometimes polygamous, 

 although usually hermaphrodite) are 

 borne either singly or in clusters m the 

 axils of the upper leaves, or in panicles at 

 the end of the shoots. Calyx 5-cleft with 

 a hemispherical or top-shaped tube. 

 Petals 5, obovate or lance-shaped, hooded. 

 Stamens 5. Fruit a blackish or purple 

 drupe. 



B. volubilis {Rhamnus scandens ; R. 

 ■voluhilis). — A rather pretty deciduous 

 climber native of the Southern United 

 States. Its smooth branches are furnished 

 with slightly wavy oval leaves having a 

 short sharp point. The small greenish- 

 white flowers are borne in summer in the 

 axils of the leaves and also at the end of 

 the shoots, and are succeeded in autmnn 

 by oblong violet or purple fruits. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is hardy in most pai'ts of the king- 

 dom, and will grow in ordinary good 

 garden soil. It may be utilised for train- 

 ing over tree stumps, bowers, trellises &c. 

 in the rougher parts of the garden. It is 

 increased by inserting cuttings of the 

 ripened shoots, and also of the roots, in 

 sandy soil under a handlight in autumn, 

 or in gentle bottom heat. The branches 

 may also be layered during the late sum- 

 mer and autumn. 



RHAMNUS (Buckthorn). — A genus 

 with about 60 species of evergreen or 

 deciduous trees or shrubs. Flowers in 

 axillary cymes, often unisexual. Calyx- 

 tube urn-shaped, 5-oleft. Petals 4-5, or 

 none. Stamens 4-5, with very short 

 filaments. Fruit a berry-like drupe, 

 oblong or globose. 



Cultv/re and Propagation. — The Buck- 

 thorns grow well in ordinary garden soil, 

 and may be increased by layers in 

 autumn or cuttings of the ripened shoots 

 inserted in sandy soU under a handlight 

 or in a cold frame. Seeds of many of the 

 Buckthorns are ripened freely in the 

 British Islands, and fresh pl9,nts may be 

 obtained by sowing these as soon as ripe, 

 or in spring in cold frames. 



R. Alaternus. — A native of the 

 southern coasts of Europe, about 20 ft. 

 high, with ovate-elliptic or lance-shaped, 

 leathery, serrated leaves. Flowers from 



April to June, green, dioecious ; petals 

 absent. There is a variegated form hav- 

 ing the leaves broadly edged with silvery 

 white, and also one called latifoUus with 

 broader leaves than the type. 



Culture do. as above. Bipens seeds 

 freely. 



R. alpinus. — A European shrub, 4 ft. 

 high, with oval lance-shaped, crenate- 

 serrate leaves with parallel veins. 

 Flowers in early summer, greenish, 

 dioecious : female ones with 4-cleft 

 stigmas. The variety grandifolius is an 

 improved form. 



Cultu/re d-c. as above. 



R. californicus (B. oleifoKus). — An 

 unarmed evergreen Californian shrub 6-12 

 ft. high, with leathery, elUptic oblong, 

 entire leaves 2 in. long. Flowers in May, 

 greenish, with 5 stamens. 



Cultu/re So. as above. Ripens seeds 

 freely. 



R. catharticus {Common Buckthorn). 

 A British shrub 5-10 ft. high, with 

 ovate, acutely serrated leaves. Flowers 

 from May to July, greenish. Fruit black, 

 J in. in diameter. 



Culture dc. as above. Bipens seeds 

 freely. 



R. croceus. — A spiny, evergreen shrub 

 4 ft. high, native of California. Leaves 

 leathery, roundish obovate, about i in. 

 long, of a bright yeUovrish-brown beneath 

 when dry. Flowers in May, greenish, 

 with 5 stamens ; petals absent. Fruit 

 greenish or yellowish. 



Culture do. as above. This species is 

 rarely seen. 



R. davuricus [B. utilis). — A spiny 

 Chinese shrub, 15-20ft. high, with obovate 

 pointed or narrowly elliptic lance-shaped 

 leaves in clusters at the ends of the 

 branchlets. Flowers in May, greenish- 

 yellow. 



Culture dc. as above. 



R. Frangiila {Berry -hearing Alder; 

 Blach Dogwood). — A British shrub 5-10 

 ft. high, with obovate entire leaves, and 

 awl-shaped stipules. Flowers in early 

 summer, greenish- white, followed by black 

 fruits i in. in diameter. The wood is 

 used for gunpowder. There are several 

 varieties of this species, among which may 

 be noted asplenifolius, aureo-variegatus, 

 atigustifoKus, and lafifolius. 



Culture d'c. as above. Ripens seeds 

 freely. 



