CELASTRACEiE. 



Nat. syst. ed.2.p.ll9. 



EL^ODENDRON. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, expanding, linear-oblong. Disk 

 5-angled, very thick, fleshy. Anthers 5, inserted into the mar- 

 gin of the disk : filaments at length recurved : anthers with a 

 thick connective, roundish, opening longitudinally. Ovary im- 

 mersed in the disk, 2-celled : ovules 2 in each cell ; style short, 

 conical. Stigma simple, obtuse. Fruit drupaceous, dry or 

 pulpy : nut 1-2-celled. Seeds usually solitary, rarely in pairs, 

 with a membranaceous or spongy integument, erect. — Small trees. 

 Leaves opposite, entire, glabrous. Peduncles axillary, branch- 

 ing dichotomously. 



413. E. Roxburghii W. and A. i. 157- — Neereeja dichotoma 

 Roxb.Jl. bid. i. 646. — Mountainous parts of India. 



Branches numerous, spreading in every direction; twigs opposite, 

 round, and smooth. Leaves opposite and alternate, petiolate, ova!, 

 and oblong, serrato-crenate, hard, smooth ; about 4 inches long, and 2 

 broad. Petioles round, J inch long. Cymes axillary, globular, thin, 

 throughout dichotomous, with the divisions standing at right angles. 

 Peduncles 3 times the length of the petioles, round, smooth. Flowers 

 small, yellow, not very numerous. Sepals orbicular, unequal, deciduous. 

 Petals oblong, spreading. Disk a large, fleshy, pentagonal ring sur- 

 rounding the base of the ovary, with the filaments inserted into its 

 angles. Filaments 5, shorter than the petals, spreading. Anthers 

 2-lobed. Ovary conical. Style shorter than the stamens, thick. Stigma 

 simple. Drupe oblong, succulent, red, smooth, 1-celled. Stone some- 

 what crustaceous and soft. — The fresh bark of the root rubbed with 

 plain water is by the natives of India applied externally to almost every 

 sort of swelling. It is a very strong astringent, possessing scarcely any 

 other sensible quality. Roxb. 



CELASTRUS. 



Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, sessile. Disk fleshy, orbicular. 

 Stamens 5, inserted into or under the margin of the disk : an- 

 thers opening longitudinally. Ovary sessile, on or half immersed 

 in the disk, 2-3-celled ; ovules usually in pairs, rarely 5-6 in 

 each cell. Styles thick, entire, or 2-3-cleft. Capsule 2-3-celled, 

 the dissepiments sometimes incomplete or evanescent. Seeds 

 1-2 in each cell. — Shrubs with alternate leaves. Peduncles 

 many-flowered, axillary or arranged in terminal panicles. 

 197 o 3 



