No. 33. DIRCA. 159 



Flowers blossoming early and before the leaves 

 come out, forming in the fall within terminal buds, 

 where they hybernate, buds with many oblong hairy 

 scales, and three flowers. Peduncle bearing a fascicle 

 of three flowers, formed by three cohering pedicels. 

 Each flower yellow, half an inch long, with a simple 

 perigone, called Corolla by Linnaeus because it is co- 

 lored; this perigone is drooping, tubular, contracted 

 at the base and middle, campanulate at the end, with 

 eight obscure teeth on the margin. Eight Stamina 

 inserted on the perigone, with slender filaments, longer 

 than the perigone, and alternately longer and shorter, 

 anthers rounded. Gennen oval, central free, with a 

 long filiform curved style inserted on one side of the 

 base, Stigma acute. Fruit a small orange berry, oval, 

 acute, with a single seed. 



4 



HISTORY — One of the few American genera con- 

 taining as yet a single species. It is a very distinct 

 genus belonging to the natural family of Daphnides, 

 called Thymelea by Jussieu and Vepreculse by Lin- 

 naeus, and also to Ocfandrza monogynia of his sexual 

 system. The specific name pahistris implies that It 

 grows in swamps ; but it is oftener found on the banks 

 of rivers and even among rocks. 



The blossoms are scentless and appear very early 

 in the Spring, as soon as the Maples blossoms, long be- 

 fore the leaves are unfolded. The bark is very tough, 

 can hardly be broken, and tearing in long stripes is 

 used as yet in many parts for ropes, a practice bor- 

 rowed from the Indian tribes : the wood is also flexible. 



The berries are poisonous, children must avoid 



