Celastraceae. Staff-tree Family. 
Shrubs with opposite leaves, with or without stipules. Flowers regular, 
usually perfect. Sepals and petals 4,both imbricated in the bud. Stamens 4, _ 
alternate with the petals, seated on a disc which may or may not be joined 
to the ovary.e Pistil 1, the ovary 2-5 chambered. Style short or wanting. 
Stigna 2-5 lobed. Fruit a Ve 
: Cashiscent pod gy wm rw, ; 4 
Pachystima Raf, 
a. 
Evergreen shrub with minute stipules. Style very short, Fruit a 
dehiscent pods; seeds arillate, 
1. P. Myrsinites (Purshx) Raf. Mountain lover. A canpact much branched 
undershrab with smooth brownish bark, .5-1 m. tall, the branchlets slender, 
glabrous, leaves opposite} 1-2.5 om. long, leathery, commonly elliptical 
frequently oblanceolate or even obovate in shade forms, more or less narrowed 
at the base to a petiole 1-2 mm. long, the margin sharply but shallowly serrate 
chiefly above the middle, both surfaces glabrous; flowers inconspicuous, 1-3 
in the leaf axils, each subtended by a pair of awl-shaped bracts 1 mm. long; 
calyx lobes thickened, less than 1 mm. long, reflexed in fruit, petals 1.5-2 
mm. long, fleshy, triangular, purplish, the stamens scarcely half as long; 
pod 6 mme long, 2-valved, the valves unequal, boat-shaped; seeds'5 mn. long, 
cylindrical, obtuse, surrounded at the base by the lacerate aril. 
i ii le 
Perhaps the most abundant shrub in our region, found at all elevations, 
occurring especially in open woods and persisting in fairly deep shade. 
Rite 
