No. 14.] FLOWERING PLANTS AND FERNS. 275 



Common. Moist or wet, mostly shaded places. July — 

 Sept. 



A form with pale yellow flowers occurs at Thompson 

 (Weatherby & Bissell). 



The plant bjsars cleistogamous fertile flowers in the earlier 

 stages of its growth. Medicinal; it is said also to be effica- 

 cious in relieving the effects of poisoning by species of Rhus 

 and stinging nettles. 



RHAMNACEAE. BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 

 RHAMNUS L. Buckthorn. 

 Rhamnus alnifolia L'Her. (alder-leaved). 

 Dwarf Alder. 



Rare or local. In swamps: Litchfield (Weatherby & 

 Bissell), Cornwall (E. E. Brewster), Norfolk (Bissell), 

 Salisbury (M. L. Fernald), East Granby (Harger). May. 



Rhamnus cathartica L. (cathartic). 



Common Buckthorn. 



Rare or local. Escaped from cultivation to roadsides and 

 pastures : Stonington, Lebanon, Woodstock and Stafford 

 (Graves), Norwich (Mrs. E. E. Rogers), Middletown (J. 

 D. Cochrane), East Hartford (C. C. Hanmer), Water- 

 bury (A. E. Blewitt), New Milford and Kent (C. K. 

 Averill), Cornwall and Norfolk (Bissell), Salisbury (Mrs. 

 C. S. Phelps). May — June. Naturalized from Europe. 



A good hedge plant. The berries and bark are actively 

 cathartic. Another species of this genus, Rhamnus Purshiana 

 DC. of western North America, furnishes the well known 

 Case at a sagrada. 



CEANOTHUS L. Red-root. 

 Ceanothus americanus L. 



New Jersey Tea. Red-root. 



Common. Dry, open woods and fields in sterile soil. 

 June — July. 



The leaves are said to have been used during the American 

 revolution as a substitute for tea. The root and leaves were 

 formerly used for dying wool red. Medicinal. 



