72 CELASTRINE/E. [Euonymus. 



flowers destitute of pistil). — Name from ae, sharp, in Celtic, 

 according to Theis, but this is a very forced derivation. 



Tetrandria. Tetrayynia. 



1. I. Aquifolium, Linn. Common Holly. Leaves ovate, 

 acute, shining, waved with spinous teeth ; peduncles axillary, 

 short, many-flowered ; flowers subuinbellate. Br. FL 1 . p. 72. 

 E. Fl. v.\.p. 227. E. Bot. t. 496. 



Frequent in hedges and woods, especially in a light and gravelly 

 soil. Fl. May, June. T? . — A small evergreen tree of great beauty, 

 with smooth greyish bark. Leaves alternate, deep shining green, very 

 rigid, the upper ones often quite entire, the lower ones generally edged 

 with long sharp spines. The flowers are somewhat umbellate, and 

 spring from the axils of the leaves. Calyx slightly hairy, small. Co- 

 rolla white. Berries bright scarlet, (in one variety they are yellow.) 

 Excellent for fences, as it bears clipping. The wood is hard and white, 

 and presents a beautiful surface ; whence it is much employed in 

 turner's work, for making drawings upon. It is also used in inlaying 

 and veneering, and for knife handles. Bird-lime is made from its muci- 

 laginous bark. Houses and churches are decorated at Christmas with 

 branches containing the leaves and berries, as is also the case with the 

 Misseltoe in the southern parts of England — a relic probably of Druid- 

 ism, during the prevalence of which, according to Dr. Chandler, houses 

 were decked with them, that the sylvan spirits might repair to them, 

 unnipped by frost and cold winds, until a milder season had renewed 

 the foliage" of their darling abodes. — Many elegant varieties of this 

 ornamental tree are cultivated in the gardens and plantations of the 

 curious, of which a few may be mentioned, viz,— the plain Dutch 

 Holly, the small myrtle leaved, the Scotch Dahoon, and the narrow- 

 leaved or Swinard's Holly ; besides many beautiful varieties with va- 

 riegated leaves, several of which were first found in a wild state by Mr. 

 R. Hodgens, Nurseryman, Dunganstown, County of Wicklow. 



Ord. 25. CELASTRINE7E. Br. Celastrus Family. 



Sepals 4 — 5, combined at the base, distinct from the ovary, 

 with an imbricated aestivation. Petals 4 — 5, alternate with the 

 sepals, rarely none. Stamens 4 — 5, alternate with the petals, 

 with a doubtfully perigynous insertion ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary 

 free, surrounded by a somewhat fleshy disk, 2 — 3 — 4-celled ; 

 cells 1 — or many-seeded : ovules erect, rarely pendulous : style 

 1 or wanting: stigma 2 — 4-cleft. Pericarp a capsule, berry, 

 drupe or samara, various in form, often deformed by the sup- 

 pression of some of the cells. Seeds generally, especially in 

 the capsular fruits, arillate. Albumen none, or fleshy. Embryo 

 straight. — Shrubs or trees. Leaves usually simple, often stipuled, 

 alternate or opposite. Flowers white or greenish. 



1. Euonymus. Linn. Spindle-tree. 



Calyx flat, 4— 5-cleft, having a peltate disk within. Petals 4 — 5. 

 Stamens alternating with the petals, inserted upon glands at 



