Shrubs and Trees of the Southern States.— IV. 



By John K. Small 

 1. THE EBENACEAE IN THE SOUTH 



Two types with as divergent characters as those possessed by 

 Diospyros Virgi7iiana and the so-called D. Tcxana, cannot with the 

 least degree of systematic order, be referred to the same genus. 

 The two plants are of wholly different habit, and the flower-struc- 

 ture of the two is so distinct that I cannot understand on what 

 grounds they have been associated with each other in the same 

 genus. The distinguishing characters of the two trees, which I 

 shall treat as two distinct genera, may be compared by means of 



the following synopsis : 



EBENACEAE 



A family of about 6 genera and 275 species, most abundant in 

 tropical regions. Only the following representatives are now 

 known to occur in the United States. 



Key to the Genera 



Styles distinct : anther-sacs opening by longitudinal slits : filaments pubescent : pistillate 

 flowers without starainodia. I. DiOSPYKOS. 



Styles united : anther-sacs opening by subapical pores ; filaments glabrous : pistillate 

 flowers with 8 staminodia. 2. Brayodendron. 



I. DIOSPYROS L. 



I. D. ViRGINIANA L. Sp. PI. 1057. 1753 



In woods and fields, Rhode Island to Kansas, Florida and 



Texas. As now limited this species may be an aggregate. One 



or two additional species may be separable in the south Atlantic 



and Gulf States. 



2. Brayodendron * 



I. B. Texanum (Scheele) 

 Diospyros Texana Scheele, Linnaea, 22: 145. 1849. 

 Along or near streams in river valleys, southern Texas and 

 adjacent Mexico. 



* Named for Prof. W. L. Bray, head of the School of Botany, University of 

 Texas. 



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