Celastrus. pentandria monogynia. 623 



5. C. nutans. R. 



Shrubby, scandent, unarmed. Leaves alternate, petioled, 

 broad-obovate, obtusely serrate, smooth. Panicles racemose, 

 terminal. Seeds invested in a complete aril. 



A native of Mysore, from thence introduced by Dr. Buch- 

 anan, into the Botanic garden at Calcutta, where it flowers in 

 April. Seeds ripe in August. 



Stem short, round, woody, scandent. Bark a little scab- 

 rous, light brown. Branches climbing and twining- over 

 the tops of large trees, &c. ; young shoots round, drooping, 

 marked with white, rough dots. Leaves alternate, short-pe- 

 tioled, drooping, broad, obovate, cuneate, serrate, smooth 

 on both sides ; length from two to three inches, and from one 

 to three broad. Petioles about half an inch long - , slightly 

 ehnnnelled. Stipules minute, deciduous. Racemes or pa- 

 nicles terminal, drooping*, sub-cylindrical, a little downy. 

 Bractes a single, acute, very small, caducous one at the base 

 of each pedicel. Calyx deeply five-parted, divisions roundish, 

 slightly pubescent, several times shorter than the petals. Pe- 

 tals five, alternate with the divisions of the calyx, spread- 

 ing ; margins becoming recurved. Nectary a concave, five- 

 sided receptacle, on which the germ rests. Filaments five, 

 very short, inserted on the five angles of the nectary, alter- 

 nate with the petals. Anthers sub-sagittate. Germ ovate, 

 three-lobed, three-celled, with two ovula in each, attached 

 to the base of the axis. Style scarcely any. Stigma three- 

 lobed, lobes spreading, with notched margins. Capsule 

 round, size of a pea, one-celled, three- valved. Seeds from 

 three to six ; three or four is the most common number ; shape 

 conform to the number, each invested in a thick, complete, 

 fleshy, orange-coloured aril. Integument single. Perisperm 

 conform to the seed, white and hard. Embryo straight, 

 erect, green. Cotyledons oblong. Radicle cylindric infe- 

 rior, with its apex pointing to the umbilicus. 



Obs. There are five or six large plants of this in the Bota- 



