the buckthorn, in botany: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 43rd order, Dumas. The calyx is tubulous, with five minute scales surrounding the stamens; there is no corolla; the fruit is a berry. There are 27 species; of which the most remarkable are,

1. The catharticus, or common purging buckthorn, growing naturally in some parts of Britain. This grows to the height of 12 or 14 feet, with many irregular branches at the extremities. The leaves are oval-lanceolate, finely serrated on the edges, their nerves converging together. The flowers grow in clusters, one on each footstalk, white, and in this species divided into four segments: the fruit is a round black berry, containing four seeds. The juice of the berries is a strong purgative, and is made use of for making the Rhamnus, common syrup of buckthorn kept in the shops. The bark is emetic: the juice of the unripe berries with alum dyes yellow, of the ripe ones a fine green; the bark also dyes yellow. The green colour yielded by the berries, called by the French verte veille, is much esteemed by miniature painters.

Of this species there are two varieties, viz. the dwarf buckthorn, a shrub of about a yard high, of a greenish colour but little show; and the long-leaved dwarf buckthorn, which is a larger shrub, with leaves somewhat larger, but in other respects very similar to the dwarf buckthorn.

2. The zizyphus is the species in which the lac insect* forms its cells, and produces the wax called gum-lac. See LACCIA.

3. The lotus has the leaves, prickles, flowers, and fruit, of the zizyphus or jube; only with this difference, that the fruit is here round, smaller, and more luscious, and at the same time the branches, like those of the palurus, are neither so much jointed nor crooked. The fruit is in great repute, tastes something like gingerbread, and is sold in the markets all over the southern districts of these kingdoms. The Arabs call it anebenta el jeedra, or the jube of the jeedra; which Olavus Celsius had so high an opinion of, that he has described it as the dudaim of the scriptures. This species is very common in the Jereede and other parts of Bombay; and has been supposed by some to be the same plant with that celebrated by Homer for its enchanting property; though the latter is more generally supposed to have been a species of Diospyros (which see). It is proper, however, to distinguish between both these shrubs and an herb often mentioned by the ancients under the name of lotus, which Homer mentions as being fed upon by the horses of Achilles, and Virgil as proper to increase the milk of sheep (see Lotus). They are also different from the Egyptian lotus described by Herodotus; for which see Nymphaea.

4. The frangula, or berry-bearing alder, is a deciduous shrub, a native of England and most of the northern parts of Europe, and affords several varieties.

5. The Alpine, rough-leaved frangula, or berry-bearing alder, is also a deciduous shrub, and native of the Alps. It differs in no respect from the common sort, except that it has no thorns, and that it will grow to be rather taller, with tough, large, and doubly laciniated leaves. The smooth-leaved Alpine frangula is a variety of this species, with smooth leaves and of a slower growth.

6. The palurus, or thorn of Christ, is a deciduous shrub or tree, a native of Palestine, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. It will grow to nearly the height of 14 feet.

(b) Avatar means the descent of the deity in his capacity of preserver. The three first of these descents relate to some stupendous convulsion of our globe from the fountains of the deep, and the fourth exhibits the miraculous punishment of pride and impiety, appearing to refer to the deluge. Three of the others were ordained for the overthrow of tyrants or giants. Of these Avatars we have mentioned in the text, that Rama is the eighth; Buddha, who appears to have been a reformer of the doctrines contained in Vedas, is the ninth: the tenth Avatar, we are told, is yet to come, and is expected to appear mounted (like the crowned conqueror in the Apocalypse) on a white horse, with a scimeter blazing like a comet to mow down all incorrigible and impenitent offenders who shall then be on the earth. feet, and is armed with sharp thorns, two of which are at each joint, one of which is about half an inch long, straight, and upright; the other is scarcely half that length, and bent backward; and between them is the bud for next year's shoot. June is the time of flowering, and the flowers are succeeded by a small fruit, surrounded by a membrane. "This plant (says Hanbury) is undoubtedly the fort of which the crown of thorns for our Blest Saviour was composed. The branches are very pliant, and the spines of it are at every joint strong and sharp. It grows naturally about Jerusalem, as well as in many parts of Judæa; and there is no doubt that the barbarous Jews would make choice of it for their cruel purpose. But what farther confirms the truth of these thorns being then used, are the ancient pictures of our Blest Saviour's crucifixion. The thorns of the crown on his head exactly answer to those of this tree; and there is great reason to suppose these were taken from the earliest paintings of the Lord of Life: and even now our modern painters copy from them, and represent the crown as composed of these thorns. These plants, therefore, should principally have a share in those parts of the plantation that are more peculiarly designed for religious retirement; for they will prove excellent monitors, and conduce to due reflection on and gratitude to 'Him who hath loved us, and has washed us from our sins,' &c.

7. The common alaternus is an evergreen tree, and native of the south of Europe. There are several varieties of this species; the most remarkable of which are the broad-leaved and the jagged-leaved alaternus, which have all been confounded with the phillyrea.

8. The infectorius, or narrow-leaved buckthorn, is an evergreen shrub or tree, and native of Spain. It grows to the height of 10 or 12 feet, and sends forth several branches from the bottom to the top. They are covered with a blackish or dark-coloured bark, and each of them is terminated by a long sharp thorn. The fruit continues on the trees all winter, making a beautiful appearance among the narrow-clustered leaves at that season.

9. The oleoides, or olive-leaved buckthorn, is an evergreen shrub, and native of Spain, and grows to the height of 8 or 10 feet. It sends forth numerous branches, each of which is terminated by a long sharp spine. The flowers are small, of a whitish green colour, and are succeeded by round black berries.