Ligustrum vulgare, 
Privet or Prim 
LIGUSTRUM Lin. Gtn. Pl. Diandria Monogynia. 
Cor. 4 fida. Bacca tetrafperma. 
Raii Syn. Arbores Bacciferje. 
LIGUSTRUM vulgare. Liti. Sy/I. Fegelai. p. rt. %. PL p. io. FI. Site. n. J. llatlcr. Hift. n. J3 & 
‘ Sapoii Flor. Carniol. n. 4. Huijon. FI. Angi. ed. 2. p. 3. Lightjoot FI. Seal. p. 72. 
LIGUSTRUM Germanicum. Batth.Pm. 473. Ger. em. p. 1394 Farkmfin. p. 1446. Fati Syn. p. 
465. Privet or Prim. 
FRUTEX fepedalis circiter, ramofus, cortex ex cinereo;' 
virelcefts, pundtis plurimis 'fparfis prominulis • j 
exafperata : rami oppolici, junioribus flexilibus, ] • 
purpurafeentibus. i . 
FOLIA oppofita, breviffime petiolata, ovato -lanceolata, . : 
utriuque glabra, integerrima, inferioribus ad:: 
exortum ramulorum minoribus. *; 
FLORES albi, odorati, paniculati. ;; 
PANICULA biuncialis, denfa, fubpyramidath. d 
RAMI paniculas ut pedicelli ad lentem villofi. 
CALYX: Perianthium monophyllum, minimum, ; ; 
heemifphaericum, albidum, ore qQadridentafo-, : : 
dentibus ereftis, minimis, fg. i . ■; 
COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformls, alba, cito:: 
rufefeens. ‘Tubus cylindraceus, longior calyce. . : 
Limbus quadripartitus, patens, laciniis ovatis:: 
craffis, obtufis, jig. 2. ; ; 
STAMINA: Filamenta duo, oppofita, breviffima, ]; 
alba. Antherje majufculae, eredi*, longitu- ■ : 
dine fere corolla?. Pollen flavefeens, Jig. 3. ■■ 
PISTILLUM: Germen fubrotundum. Stylus fili-:: 
formis, albus, fuperne paululum incraflatus. ; ; 
Stigma obtufum, craffiufculum, vix mani-* 
fefte bifidum, Jig. 4. | 
PERICARPIUM: Bacca globofa, glabra, nigra, uni- | 
locularis, Jig. 5. ¥ 
SEMINA tria five quatuor, hinc convexa, inde angulata, | 
fg. 6. f 
A SHRUB, ufually about fix feet high, branched, the 
bark of a greenifh-afh colour, irregularly 
fprinkled with numerous prominent points ; 
branches oppofite, the young ones flexible and 
purplifh. 
LEAVES oppofite, Handing on very fhort foot-ftalkj, 
ovato-lauceolate, lmooth on each fide, per- 
fectly entire, the lower ones at the bottoms of 
the fmall branches leaft. 
FLOWERS white, fweet-feented, forming a panicle. 
PANICLE about two inches in length, clofe and fome- 
what pyramidal. 
BRANCHES of the panicle, as well as the flower* 
ftalks, villous when magnified. 
CALYX : a Perianthium of one leaf, very fmall, 
hemifpherical, and whitifli, the mouth having 
four teeth, which are upright and very minute, 
fig' I- 
COROLLA of one petal, funnel-fhaped, white, foon 
changing to a reddifh-brown colour. The tube 
cylindrical, longer than the calyx. Limb 
deeply divided into four fegments, which are 
fpreading, ovate, thick, and obtufe, Jig. 2. 
STAMINA : two Filaments, oppofite, very fhort and 
white. Anther;e rather large, upright, al- 
moft the length of the corolla. Pollen yel- 
Iowifh, fig. 3. 
PISTILLUM : Germen roundifh. Style filiform^ 
white, a little thickened above. Stigma ob- 
tufe, thickilh, fcarce perceptibly bifid, Jig. 4. 
SEED-VESSEL: a round, fmooth, fhintng, black, 
berry of one cavity, Jig. 5. 
SEEDS three or four, convex on one fide, and angular 
on the other. Jig. 6 . 
Previous to the publication of the Flora Japonica by Profelfor Thunberg *> the prefent celebrated fucceflbr to 
the. immortal Linnjeus, Botanifts were acquainted with one fpecies of Liguftrum only. That gentleman deferibes 
another, to which he gives the name of japonicum, and characterifes the two in the following manner : 
Liguftrum vulgare foliis ovatis obtufis , panicula fimpliciter trichotoma. 
Liguftrum japonicum foliis ovatis acuminatis panicula deCompofiti trichotoma. 
In point of utility, not to fay ornament, few of our Englilh or even foreign fhrubs exceed the common Privet. 
Its chief ufe is to form fuch hedges as are required in the dividing of gardens for Ihelter or ornament ; the Italian 
or ever-green Privet, as it is called, which is only a variety of the common fpecies, is ufually preferred for this 
purpofe. The Privet bears clipping admirably well ; is not liable to be disfigured by infe&s, and having roots formed 
only of fibres, it robs the ground lefs than almofl: any other forub. It is found to thrive better in the fmoke of 
great cities than molt others ; fo that whoever has a little garden in fuch places, and is defirous of having a few 
plants that look green and healthy, may be gratified in the Privet, becaufe it will flourilh and look well there. 
Mi 1. 1 er lays it will grow well under the lhade and drip of trees. 
The belt mode of railing Privet is from feeds, though it is capable of being propagated by layers and cuttings. 
The Privet is not apt to be eaten by cattle, and the Sphinx Ligufiri , or Privet Hawk Moth, one of the large ft as 
well ag the moll beautiful infers we have, is almoft the only one that feeds on it in its Caterpillar ftate. There are 
fow gardens having Privet in which this Caterpillar may not be found in the months of Auguft and September 
The readieft way of difcovering it is by its dung, which is fufficiently vilible under thofe Ihrubs on which it feeds” 
The Meloe vficatorius , commonly known by the name of Cantharides, or Blifter-beetle, is found alfo on the leaves* 
of this Hi rub. The berries of the Privet continue on the plant till fpring advances, arid in times of fcarcity are 
eaten by different forts of birds; but by none with fo much avidity as 'the Bulfinch (Loxia PyrrhulaJ. Bird- 
catchers who know this, often catch them in the following manner: they take fome large boughs of the Privet in 
berry, flick them into the ground where Bulfinches frequent, lime the top twigs, and place £l call bird underneath 
The berries are alio recommended m dying, colouring of wines, and as affording a purple colour to ftain prints- 
but for thele feveral purpoles there are much better materials in common ufe. ^ ’ 
It ufually grows in woods and hedges ; is not nice in its foil Or fituatiou, but ffouriflles molt in a moift foil i 
flowers in July, and ripens its berries in Autumn. 
It is found with three leaves at a joint, with variegated leaves, and white berries; Halier; 
4! Caroli Petri Thunberg Flora Japonica, Lipfite 1784,' 
