RHAMNACEiE. 



183 



RHAMNA CEJE. 



Exogens, with small flowers, having the calyx four or five- 

 cleft. Petals distinct, hooded or rolled in, inserted into the orifice 

 of the calyx, occasionally none. Stamens opposite the petals, 

 Disc fleshy. Ovary superior, or half-superior, from two to four- 

 celled. — Trees or shrubs, often spiny ; leaves simple, alternate, 

 very seldom opposite ; natives of many parts of the world ; the 

 berries of some medicinal. 



CEANOTHUS. 



Gen. Char. (Pentandria Monogynia.) Petals five, resembling a 

 bag, vaulted ; berry dry, three-celled, three-seeded. 



The name is derived from the Greek for to prick. C. azu- 

 reus has beautiful blue flowers, cuneatus white, macrocarpus 

 straw-coloured flowers ; these are American species ; C.flori- 

 bundus, papillosus, dentatus, tliyrsiflorws, verrucosus, rigidus, 

 and Lohbianus, from California, are beautiful species, having 

 numerous crowded heads of flowers of the richest blue, the 

 first of the hue called mazarine : these are great ornaments 

 to the greenhouse ; other species are hardy. The soil should 

 be sandy loam. 



