RHAMNE2E. Lindl. The buckthorn tribe of plants, comprising the genera Zizyphus, Berchemia, Sageretia, Ventilago, Rhamnus, Scutia, Hovenia, Colubrina, Gouania, Apteron, Helinus, Smythea. Hovenia dulcis, Thunb., is cultivated in the Hima layas for its edible fruit, and it has a light coloured wood. Ventilago maderaspatana, is valued for the red dye obtained from its root, and for the fibre of its bark. The genus Rhamnus furnishes both woods and dyes, and fruits and timber are obtained from Zizyphus. Several species of rhainnus grow in the Himalaya and China. In Europe the juices of the unripe fruits of Rhamnus infectorius, catharticus, and virgatus, known as Turkey or French berries, are used for dyeing leather yellow. When mixed with lime and evaporated to dryness, it forms the colour called sap-green. M. Rondot's Notice du Vert de Chine contains specimens of calico and silk dyed with green, and engra,vings of two plants, Rham nus utilis and Rharnnus chlorophorns, from which it is derived. These plants were new to Euro pean cultivators ; they are, however, allies of the Rhamnus theezans, which has long been known as a tree from which the poorest cla.ss of Chinese pluck the leaves to use as a substitute for tea. The colour of the dyed silk is remarkably bright, a blue green,—one of that class of colours which increase in brilliance in the light. It contains, in fact, some immediate principle which can only be developed by light, and it was a nice task for chemists to discover what this is, M. Persoz says that light will have to be more and more regarded as an industrial agent ; and of the Chinese green he remarks that it is sui generis, containing neither yellow nor blue. By experiments made at Lyons, it appears that six species of the European rhamnus will yield a green dye. See Dyes.
Rhamnus chlorophorus, Lindley, a superior green pigment, called Lo Kao, is prepared from the bark.
The bark of R. utilis, also from China, is similarly employed. It is particularly used for silk.—Von Mueller.
Rhamnus incanus, Roxb., a tree of the Idol Incas, with small, greenish-yellow flowers.—I?ozb. p. 603.
Rhamnusnabeca, Forsk. The fruit, called Nebek, is eaten, and the leaves are used for the purpose of washing dead bodies.—Burton's.21.tecca, p. 105.
Rhamnus pauciflora and R. staddo in Abys sinia, yield an ardent spirit.
Rhamnus Persicus, Boiss.
Sherawane, . . PUSHTU. I Kukai, Wurak, TR.-INDUS. Jalidar, . RAVI, SUTLEJ. I Nikki Kander, Nar, „ A common shrub at 2000 to 5000 feet on the Salt Range and the low hills beyond the Indus. Its small black fruit is said to be sweet, but when eaten in excess to affect the head.
Rhamnus purpureus, .Royle.
Kari, Tadru, . CHENAB. Kunje, Tunde, . . RAVI. Memarari, . . . „ Tanana, Madana, „ Bal, . JHELUM. Chaterni, . . SUTLEJ.
This small tree is common up to near the Indus at from 4500 to 9500 feet. In Hazara its fruit is used as a purgative.—Dr. J. L. Stewart, p. 42. Rhamnus utilis, affording a green dye in China. Rhamnus virgatus, Rox1). p. 604.
Reteon, Sindrol, . REA.% Nar, Tadru, Dadur, KANG. Mamral, . . . CHENAB. Muttu, Romusk, SUTLEJ. Phipni, Dadru, JHELUM. Niar, Chattr, . . „ Tudur, Seta pajja, „ A small tree of Kaghan, common on all the Panjab rivers up to near the Indus at from 4000 to 9500 feet ; grows along the Himalaya and on the Neilgherries. Fruit bitter; and when eaten, causes Voigt ; Cleghorn.
Ithainnus Wightii, IV, and A., ia the Rugt romr of Bombay.