Genus i. 



STAFF-TREE FAMILY. 



491 



I. Euon3mius americanus L. Strawberry 

 Bush. Fig. 2797. 



Eitonymus amcricatuts L. Sp PI. 197. 1753. 



A shrub, 2-& high, with 4-angled and ash-colored 

 twigs, divaricately branching. Leaves ovate-lanceo- 

 late or oblong-lanceolate, thick, li'-3' long, i'-i' 

 wide, acuminate at the apex, acute or obtuse at the 

 base, nearly sessile, crenulate, glabrous, or sparingly 

 hairy on the veins beneath; peduncles 6"-l2" long, 

 very slender, i-j-flowered ; flowers greenish, $"-6" 

 broad ; petals separated, the blade nearly orbicular, 

 erose or undulate, the claw short ; capsule slightly 

 3-S-lobed, not angular, depressed, tuberculate. 



In low woods, southern New York to Florida, Illinois, 

 Nebraska and Texas. June. Bursting-heart. Fish-wood. 

 Burning bush. 



2. Euonymus obovatus Xutt. Running Strawberry Bush. Fig. 2798. 



Enonyr.:"' obovatus Nutt. Gen. i : 155. 181S. 



Euonymus americanus var. obovatus T. & G. 

 Gray, Gen. 2: 188. 1849. 



A. 



A low decumbent shrub, seldom rising over a 

 foot from the ground, branching, rooting from 

 the prostrate twigs. Branches 4-angled or slightly 

 winged ; leaves obovate or elliptic-obovate, rather 

 thin, mostly acute or cuneate at the base, obtuse 

 at the apex, finely crenulate-serrulate, i'-2' long, 

 -i wide, glabrous; petioles l"-3" long; pe- 

 diuicles 1-4-flowered ; flowers greenish, smaller 

 than in the preceding species, about 3" broad ; 

 petals generally 5, nearly orbicular, crenulate or 

 erose, close together or even slightly- overlapping, 

 with scarcely any claw ; capsule commonly 3-celI- 

 ed, slightly lobed, depressed, tuberculate. 



In low woods, southern Ontario to Pennsylvania, 

 northern New Jersey ( ?), Illinois, Michigan, and 

 Kentucky. Blooms earlier than E. americanus. 

 April-May. 



3. Euonymus atropurpureus Jacq. Burning Bush. Wahoo. Fig. 2799. 



Euonymus atropurfureiis Jacq. Hort. Vind. 2 : 5. 

 pi. ISO. 1772. 



A shrub or small tree. 6-25'' high. Twigs 

 obtusely 4-angled ; leaves ovate-oblong or 

 elliptic, li'-s' long, i'-2V wide, acuminate at 

 the apex, acute or obtuse at the base, puberu- 

 lent, especially beneath, crenulate-serrulate, 

 rather thin; petioles 4"-8" long: peduncles 

 very slender, i'-2' long, bearing a trichoto- 

 mous s-15-flowered cyme; pedicels 3"-6" long; 

 flowers purple, 5"-6" broad ; petals commonly 

 4, obovate, undulate ; capsule smooth, deeply 

 3-4-lobed, 6"-8" broad. 



Ontario to Florida. Montana, Nebraska and 

 Oklahoma. Wood nearly white : weight per cubic 

 foot 41 lbs. Indian-arrow. Strawberry-tree or 

 -bush. Bitter-ash. Arrow-wood. Spindle-tree, 

 June. 



