iLiciNE^. (holly family.) 107 



yellowish-green flowers appearing before tlie leaves. Bark, leaves, and poda 

 very pungent and aromatic. 



2. X. Clava-Herculis, L. (Solthern V.) Glabrous; leaflets 3-8 

 pairs and an odd one, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, oblique, shining above; flow- 

 ers in an ample terminal cyme, appearing after the leaves ; sepals and petals 

 5; pistils 2-3, with short styles; pods sessile. (X. Carolinianum, Zr/7/(.) — 

 Sandy coast of Virginia, and southward. June. — A small tree with very 

 sharp prickles. 



2. P TELE A, L. Shrubby Trefoil. Hop-tree. 



Flowers polygamous. Sepals 3-5. Petals 3-5, imbricated in the bud. 

 Stamens as many. Ovary 2-celled ; style short ; stigmas 2. Fruit a 2-celled 

 and 2 seeded samara, winged all round, nearly orbicular. — Shrubs, with 3-foli- 

 olate leaves, and greenish-white small flowers in compound terminal cymes. 

 (The Greek name of the Elm, here applied to a genus with similar fruit.) 



1. P. trifoliata, L. Leaflets ovate, pointed, downv when young. ^ 

 Rocky places. Long Island to ]Minn., and southward. June. — A tall shrub. 

 Fruit bitter, used as a substitute for hops. Odor of the flowers disagreeable. 



AiLAXTHUs GLAXDUL^srs, Desf., called Tree of Heaven, — but whose 

 blossoms, especially the staminate ones, are redolent of anything but " airs 

 from heaven," — is much planted as a shade-tree, especially in towns, and is 

 inclined to spread from seed. It belongs to the order Simarubace.-e, which 

 differs from Rutacere in the absence of dots in the leaves. The tree is known 

 by its very long pinnate leaves of many leaflets, and small polygamous greenish 

 flowers in panicles, the female producing 2-5 thin, linear-oblong, veiny sama- 

 ras. (Adv. from China.) 



Order 25. ILICINE^E. (Holly Family.) 



Trees or shruhs, with small axillary 4 - 8-7nerous floicej's, a minute calyx 

 free from the 4-8-celled ovary and the 4-S-seeded berry-like drupe : the 

 stamens as many as the divisions of the almost or quite 4-8-petalled corolla 

 and alternate tcith them, attached to their very base. — CoroUa imbricated 

 in the bud. Anthers opening lengthwise. Stigmas 4-8, or united into 

 one, nearly sessile. Seeds suspended and solitary in each cell, anatro- 

 pous, with a minute embryo in fleshy albumen. Leaves simple, mostlv 

 alternate. Flowers white or greenish. — A small family, nearly related 

 to the Gamopetalous order Ebenacece. 



1. Ilex. Petals or corolla-lobes oval or obovate. Pedicels mostly clustered. 



2. Neniopantlies. Petals linear. Pedicels solitary. 



1. ILEX, L. Holly. 



Flowers more or less dioeciously polygamous. Calyx 4 - 6-toothed. Petals 

 4 - 6, separate, or united only at the base, oval or obovate, obtuse, spreading. 

 Stamens 4 -6. The berry -like drupe containing 4 - 6 little nutlets. — Leaves 

 alternate. Fertile flowers inclined to be solitary, and the sterile or partly 



