THE BUCKTHORN. 



221 



to Britain, and one of them is far from uncom- 

 mon. This species, Rhamnus Frangula, or Alder- 

 Buckthorn, is a woodland shrub of upright 

 growth, with a slender, purplish brown stem, and 

 scanty, roundish leaves, which are remarkably 

 smooth, both above and below, of a deep glossy 

 green, entire at the edge, and conspicuously 

 marked by many parallel veins. The flowers are 

 green, small, and inconspicuous, and are succeed- 

 ed by globular two-seeded berries, which, when 

 ripe, are dark purple, and as large as peas. It is 

 frequently to be met with in coppices, and among 

 the undergrowth of woods, growing from six to ten 

 feet high. 



The other species, Rhamnus catharticus^ re- 

 sembles the last in habit, and grows in similar 

 situations ; it is, however, more bushy, and 

 bears its flowers in clusters; the branches are 

 more rigid ; and the older branches are rough, 

 and terminate in strong thorns. It may further 

 be distinguished by its serrated leaves and 

 four-celled berries, which are violently cathar- 

 tic. This species attains a larger size in Siberia 

 than with us. I have never observed it in the 

 west of England, where the other species is 

 common. 



According to Loudon, The juice of the 

 unripe berries has the colour of safiron, and it 

 is used for staining maps or paper; they are 

 sold under the name of French berries. The 

 juice of the ripe berries, mixed with alum, is 

 the sap-green of painters ; but if the berries be 

 gathered late in autumn, the juice is purple. 

 The bark afibrds a beautiful yellow dye. The 

 tree does not make much show in spring, while 



