THE BUCKTHORN FAMILY. 



435 



native of New Zealand, having spiny leaves similar to the 

 preceding. Their uses are unknown. 



(Chailletiace^.) 



This family consists of 20 or more species. Trees with 

 alternate, simple, entire leaves, often white underneath, fur- 

 nished with stipules. Flowers small, in compact clusters. 

 Stamens 5. Pistil 1. Fruit a dry 1- 2- or 3-celled drupe. 

 They are principally natives of the tropical regions of both 

 hemispheres. The seeds of Chailletia toxicaria are said to 

 be poisonous. 



The Buckthorn Family. 



(Rhamnace^.) 



Small trees or shrubs ; some heath-like, often spiny, or 

 twining ampelids. Leaves alternate, simple, furnished with 

 stipules. Flowers axillary, small, inconspicuous, generally 

 greenish yellow. Petals 4 or 5, plain or hooded. Stamens 

 5, and with the petals inserted on a fleshy disk, in which the 

 ovary is partially immersed. Pistil 1. Fruit a berry (drupe- 

 like) or a dry capsule. 



This is a widely distributed family, consisting of more 

 than 250 species ; represented in North America by the 

 beautiful genus Ceanothus^ in Europe and Asia by Rliamnus 

 and Zizyphus^ in South Africa by Phylica and others, and 

 in Australia by Pomaderris, A yellow principle pervades the 

 family. 



Buckthorn {Bhamnus catharticus). A rude-growing strag- 

 gling spiny shrub, about 10 or 12 feet high, native of this 

 country. Its fruit is about the size of a currant, of a 

 bluish black colour, and is nauseous and purgative. The 

 juice of the unripe berries is yellow, and is used for staining 

 maps. The juice of the ripe berries is the sap green of 

 painters. It is also called bladder-green." 



Rhamnus infectoritis. A native of the South of Europe 

 and Western Asia. The berries are of considerable impor- 

 tance as a dye used by calico printers, and known as Yellow 

 F F 2 



