620 



TREES OF NORTH AMERICA 



coherincf with and filling the short tube of the calyx, flat, 4-angled or lobed, closely 

 surrounding and adhering to the ovary; petals inserted in the sinuses of the calyx 

 under the free border of the disk, as many as and much longer than the calyx-lobes, 

 spreading, deciduous; stamens as many as the petals and alternate with them, in- 

 serted on the summit of the disk; filaments very short, subulate, erect or recurved; 

 anthers 2-cclled, the cells nearly parallel or spreading below; ovary 4-celled; styles 

 short, terminating in a depressed stigma; ovules usually 2 in each cell, ascending 

 from the central angle, raphe ventral, micropyle inferior, or pendulous, the raphe 

 then dorsal and the micropyle superior. Fruit capsular, 4-lobed and celled, fleshy, 

 angled or winged, smooth (in the North American arborescent species), loculicidally 

 4-valved, the valves septiferous. Seeds 2 in each cell, or commonly solitary by 

 abortion, ascending, surrounded by a colored aril; seed-coat chartaceous; albumen 

 fleshy; embryo axile; cotyledons broad, coriaceous, parallel with the raphe; the 

 radicle short, inferior. 



Evonymus is widely distributed through the northern hemisphere, extending south 

 of the equator to the islands of the Indian Archipelago and to Australia. About 

 forty species are distinguished, the largest number occurring in the tropical regions 

 of southern Asia, and in China and Japan. Of the four species found within the ter- 

 ritory of the United States one only is a small tree. Many of the species are rich in 

 bitter and astringent principles, and are drastic and slightly stimulant. Many are 

 valued as ornaments of gardens and parks. 



The generic name is from the classical name of one of the European species. 



1. Evonymus atropurpureus, Jacq. Burning Bush. Wahoo. 



Leaves elliptical-ovate, acuminate, minutely serrate or biserrate, membranaceous, 

 puberulous below, 2'-5' long, l'-2' broad, with stout midribs and primary veins, 

 turning pale yellow in the autumn and falling in October; their petioles stout, ^'-V 



long. Flowers appearing from May to the middle of June, nearly |' across, with 

 4 rounded or rarely acute mostly entire calyx-lobes, broadly obovate undulate petals 

 often erose on the margins, and spreading anthers, in twice or thrice dichotomous 

 usually 7-15-flowered cymes borne on slender peduncles l'-2' long and conspicu- 

 ously marked by the scars of minute bracts. Fruit ripening in October, usually 

 persistent on the branches until midwinter, deeply lobed, i' across, with light purple 



