G20] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



79 



Generally a shrub, though sometimes tall enough (4 to 20 ft.) and 

 trimmed so as to appear tree-like ; twigs smooth, green or reddish- 

 green. Extensively cultivated; from Europe. Euonymous Japonica 

 (Chinese Box) with evergreen leaves 2 in. long is often cultivated. 



ORDER XIV. RHAMNACE-ffi. 



(BUCKTHORN FAMILY.) 



An order mainly of shrubs, but including in the north- 

 eastern United States two or three small trees. 



GENUS 20. RHAMNTJS. 



Shrubs or small trees with deciduous (rarely evergreen), 

 usually alternate (rarely opposite),pinnately veined leaves. 

 Flowers small, 4-parted, inconspicuous, in clusters in the 

 axils of the leaves. Fruit berry-like, with 2 to 4 seed- 

 like nuts. 



* Branches terminating in thorns 1. 



* Plant without thorns. (A.) 



A. Leaves deciduous 2. 



A. Leaves evergreen 3. 



1. Rh&mnus cathartica, L. (COMMON 

 BUCKTHORN.) Leaves ovate, minutely ser- 

 rate, alternate or many of them oppo- 

 site; branchlets 

 terminating in 

 thorns. Flowers 

 greenish. Fruit 

 globular, ^ in. in 

 diameter, black 

 with a green 

 juice, and 3 or 



4 seeds ; ripe in September. A shrub or 

 small tree, 10 to 15 ft. high, from Europe ; 

 cultivated for hedges, and found wild in 

 a few places, where it forms a small tree. 



R. cathartica. 



B. Carolini&n 



2. Rhamnus Caroliniana,Walt. (CAR- 

 OLINA BUCKTHORN.) Leaves 3' to 5 in. 



