158 



FAMILIES OF FLOWEKING PLANTS 



about a dozen other species of Ilex in the United States, some with 

 deciduous and some with evergreen leaves, but none of them are very 

 ornamental except possibly when loaded with ripe fruit. The leaves of 

 the " yaupon " in the Southern States (/. Gassine) have been used for 

 tea; but it is from the leaves of 7. Paraguayensis, a South American 

 species, that a beverage of really fine quality is obtained. It is known 

 as mate or Paraguay tea, and is as important in the commerce of the 

 country as ordinary tea is in China, the annual consumi^tion reaching 

 8,000,000 pounds. The beverage is very stimulating, and when taken 

 in excess is almost an intoxicant. The leaves of several other South 

 American species are used for the same purpose. 



Family Celastraceae. Staff-tree Family. Consists of about 40 

 genera and 350 species, of wide distribution, though chiefly in warm 

 regions. They are trees or shrubs, frequently climbing, with simple 



leaves and small regular perfect flowers, 

 with a conspicuous disk in the center, on 

 which are situated the stamens and pet- 

 als, which are both 4 or 5 in number, 

 alternate with each other. The ovary is 

 3-5-celled, becoming in fruit either a cap- 

 sule or a somewhat fleshy pod having 

 much the appearance of a berry, the 

 seeds with an appendage known as an 

 ar^il. This is often brilliantly colored, 

 whence the name of "burning bush," ap- 

 plied to our American species of Euony- 

 mus, one of which is shown in Fig. 137. 

 The climbing false bittersw^eet {Celastrus 

 M^immeria; loxrer right hand, flower of sccmdeus) is a familiar object iu the fall, 



Phvtocrene. Redrawn from Engler. •j.l'j.l'li. n £ 'i. i i 



With its bright yellow iruits and red- 

 arilled seeds. In Fig. 136 is seen a section through the fruit of Wim- 

 meria, a tropical shrub belonging to this family. 



The Celastraceae possess no very important economic feature. The 

 Arabian Catha edulis furnishes from its dried leaves a beverage known 

 as kat-tea or cafta, the flavor of which is pleasing. The Arabs also 

 believe that a twig of the bush worn in the bosom prevents the person 

 from danger of infection. The herbage of Enonymus is poisonous. 



Family Hippocrateaceae. Hippocratea Family. Contains Hippo- 

 cratea, with about 60 species, and Salacia, with about 70. Both are 

 tropical shrubs or trees, distinguished from the preceding family by 

 having flowers with 3 monadelphous stamens and 5 petals. The fruit 

 is sometimes edible. Hippocratea ovata, a climbing shrub, is the sole 



e.M-p 



Fig. 136. The two uppermost draw 

 ings, male and fe:uale flowers of Euro- 

 pean holly. lyOwer left hand, capsule of 



