436 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



or Persian Berries. Great quantities are imported from 

 ports of the Black Sea, particularly from Trebizond. 



A Chinese dye for dyeing silk has of late years come 

 into notice ; it is obtained from the bark of two species 

 of Rhamnus, R. cliloroplionis and B. utilis. It comes to 

 Europe in cakes under the name of Chinese green indigo. 

 Living plants of both species have been received, and appear 

 to be suf&ciently hardy to live in the open air ; they might 

 doubtless be naturalized in the south of England and Ireland. 



Rhamims frangula. A stiff branching shrub 6 or 8 feet 

 high, or sometimes with a single stem, assuming the cha- 

 racter of a small tree, native of this country, growing in 

 woods and uncultivated grounds. Its wood is much valued 

 for making the best charcoal used for the manufacture of the 

 finest gunpowder. 



Jujube {Zizyphus vulgaris). This is extensively spread 

 throughout the South of Europe, North and West Africa, 

 and Western Asia. It is a prickly entangled growing shrub, 

 or, when cultivated, assumes the character of a small tree. 

 The fruit is pulpy and of an oval form, about the size of a 

 plum, which is either preserved or dried, and known as 

 jujubes; they are much used in the countries where it is 

 cultivated. The jujube lozenges are flavoured with this 

 fruit, but are not always genuine. 



Zizyplius jujuha. A tree, native of India and China, 

 ha-ving fruit similar to the last. It is extensively cultivated 

 in China, and there are said to be as many as 60 varieties, 

 differing in the size and colour of their fruit. 



Zizyplius Lotus. A native of North and West Africa. It 

 is a rambling growing shrub with strong hooked spines and 

 a berried fruit of a yellow colour, which is converted into 

 a sort of bread ; a drink is also made from it, and with the 

 bread forms a considerable part of the diet of the natives. It 

 is one of the plants supposed to have been the food of the 

 ancient people called Lotophagi. The fruit of Zizyphns 

 sinensis is occasionally to be seen in Covent Garden Market, 

 where it is sold as "Japonicas." 



