R. CATHARTICUS, Common Buckthorn, is a native, thorny species, with
ovate and stalked leaves, and small, thickly clustered greenish flowers,
succeeded by black berries about the size of peas.
R. FRANGULA.--The Berry-bearing Alder. Europe and Britain. A more erect
shrub than the former, and destitute of spines. The leaves too are
larger, and the fruit of a dark purple colour when ripe. More common in
Britain than the former.
RHAPHIOLEPIS.
RHAPHIOLEPIS JAPONICA INTEGERRIMA (_syn R. ovata_).--A Japanese shrub
(1865), with deep green, ovate, leathery leaves that are not over
abundant, and produced generally at the branch-tips. The pure white,
fragrant flowers are plentifully produced when the plant is grown in a
cosy corner, or on a sunny wall. Though seldom killed outright, the
Raphiolepis becomes badly crippled in severe winters. It is, however, a
bold and handsome shrub, and one that may be seen doing well in many
gardens around London.
RHAPHITHAMNUS.
RHAPHITHAMNUS CYANOCARPUS (_syn Citharexylum cyanocarpum_). Chili. This
bears a great resemblance to some of the thorny Berberis, and is at once
a distinct and beautiful shrub. The flowers are large and conspicuous,
and of a taking bluish-lilac colour. Having stood unharmed in Ireland
through the unusually severe winters of 1879-80, when many more common
shrubs were killed outright, it may be relied upon as at least fairly
hardy.
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