CATHARTIC BUCKTHORN. 
53 
only so on the nerves beneath, the nerves in oblique 
lines; petioles pubescent. Stipules quickly deciduous, 
peduncles solitary, an inch or more long, umbellated; 
pedicels pubescent, elongated in the fruit. Calyx exter- 
nally pubescent, 5-cleft, the segments acute, internally 
carinate. Petals minute, cucullate, bifid at the apex, 
shorter than the calyx, very concave and cucullate. 
Stamens opposite the petals and involved in them. 
Germ small, ovate. Style shorter than the germ; the 
stigma obtuse and 3-lobed. Berry wider above, 3-celled, 
3-seeded. The seed obovate, black, very shining, con- 
vex externally, internally with a central elevated line at 
the base, at the hylum yellow. 
The Cathartic Buckthorn ( Rhamnus cathaiiicus') ap- 
pears to be a native of the northern states of the Union, 
as it occurs in the wildest situations. The berries and 
syrup of this species have long been employed in medi- 
cine. The juice of the berries, in a dose of 5 or 6 
drachms, proves a strong cathartic, but it is generally 
made into a syrup. The bark has also an emetic 
quality. The juice of the unripe berries with alum 
gives a yellow dye; that of the ripe fruit, concentrated 
by evaporation, and treated in the same manner with a 
solution of alum, gives a green paste, the sap green 
employed by painters, and from the manner in which it 
is prepared for sale, is called in France, vert de vessie. 
In New England, particularly in the vicinity of Bos- 
ton, this species is much employed for useful and orna- 
mental hedges, and bearing well to be cut, growing 
thick, and remaining green till winter, it is strongly 
recommended for this useful purpose. 
