The most interesting genera in this order are Paliurus, Zizyphus, Rhamnus, and Ceanothus. Christ's Thorn (_Paliurus aculeatus_) is easily known by its crooked prickly stem, and its singular fruit, which, from its resembling a head with a broad flat hat on, the French call, Porte-chapeau. The flowers are yellow, but they are too small to be ornamental. _Zizyphus Jujuba_ differs from Paliurus chiefly in its fruit, which resembles a small plum, and from the fruit of which the Jujube lozenges are made. There are numerous species of Rhamnus, some of which are trailing-shrubs, and others low trees. Some of the species, such as _R. Alaternus_, are evergreen shrubs, very useful in town-gardens, as they are not injured by smoke; others, such as the Purging Buckthorn (_R. catharticus_), have deciduous, rough, feather-nerved leaves, and the branchlets terminating in a thorn. The berries of the plants in this division are sold for dyeing yellow, under the name of French or Avignon berries. Another division includes the species which are without thorns. All these plants have their male and female flowers distinct. The last division of Rhamnus has perfect flowers, and dark-purple berries, as for example, the Berry-bearing Alder (_R. frangula_). The genus Ceanothus is well known from the beautiful _C. azureus_. The other species have generally the same kind of terminal, upright panicles of feathery flowers, but they are very inferior in beauty. _C. americanus_, which has white flowers, is sometimes called American Red-root, or New Jersey Tea.
Small heath-like shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
Tropical shrubs or trees with dotted leaves, and inconspicuous flowers.
This order contains the handsome evergreen half-hardy shrub, _Aristotelia Macqui_; the flowers are insignificant, but the berries are black, acid, and eatable, and the leaves are smooth, shining, and so abundant as to render the plant an excellent screen.
African plants, with panicles of small white flowers, and simple leaves.
Trees, natives of Asia, little known in England.
ORDER LXVI.--TEREBINTHACEÆ.--THE TURPENTINE TRIBE.
This order is divided by De Candolle into seven sections; viz., 1. Anacardiaceæ, including the Cashew-nut (_Anacardium_), the Mango (_Mangifera_), and the Turpentine trees (_Pistacia_); 2. Sumachineæ, which contains _Rhus_, _Schinus_, and _Duvaua_: 3, Spondiaceæ, containing the Hog-plum (_Spondias_); 4. Burseraceæ, including the Jamaica Birch (_Bursera_), and the Balm of Gilead tree (_Balsamodendron_); 5. Amyrideæ, the West Indian Balsam tree (_Amyris_); 6. _Spatheliaceæ_, the West Indian Sumach (_Spathelia_); and 7. Connaraceæ, containing Omphalobium, and other exotic genera. Of these modern botanists make five distinct orders, viz., Anacardiaceæ, including the first, second, and fifth sections; Amyrideæ, Spondiaceæ, Burseraceæ, and Connaraceæ. Ptelea, which was originally included in this order, is now generally placed in Xanthoxylaceæ.