144 CAPRIFOLIACE^. 



Calyx with the margin obsolete ; inner sepals (petals) 4, dis- 

 tinct. Stigma obtuse, sessile. Berry pulpy. 



V.Jlavescens Pursh.: branches terete, opposite and verticillate ; leaves 

 cuneate-obovate, 3-nerved ; spikes axillary, solitary, rather shorter than 

 the leaves ; sterile flowers mostly trifid. V. xerticillatum Nutt. 



Parasitic on trees. N. J. to Flor. and throughout the valley of the Mississippi, 

 May. %. — Stem 9 — 18 inches high, yellowish -green, smooth. Leaves fleshy 

 or somewhat coriaceous. Flowers small, yellowish-green, sessile. Berries 

 pearly white, resembling white wax. White Misseltoe. 



Order LXV. CAPRIFOLIACE^.— Caprifoils. 



Calyx 4 — 5-cleft, usually with 2 or. more bracts at base. 

 Porolla monopetalous or polypetalous, rotate or tubular, regu- 

 lar or irregular. Stamens epipetalous, as many as the lobes of 

 the corolla and alternate witji them. Style 1, or none ; stig- 

 mas 3 — 5. Fruit usually a berry or drupe, rarely a capsule. 

 Seeds solitary or numerous ; albumen fleshy. — Shrubs or her- 

 baceous plants. Leaves opposite, without stipules. Inflores- 

 cence various. 



1. SAMBUCUS. Lin7i.— Elder. 



(From the Greek caixfSixri, a musical instrument, in the construction of which 

 this wood is said to have been employed.) 



Calyx with the limb small and 5-cleft. Corolla rotate or 

 urceolate, 5-lobed ; lobes obtuse. Stamens 5. Style none. 

 Stigmas 3, sessile. Berry roundish, pulpy, 1 -celled, 3 — 5- 

 seeded. 



1 . S. Canadensis Linn. : stem suffrutescent ; leaves pinnate ; leafets in 

 4 or .5 pairs, oblong-oval, acuminate, smooth and shining ; nerves and peti- 

 oles smooth ; stipules wanting ; cyme 5-parted, spreading. 



Wet grounds. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. May, June. T2. — Stem 5 — 10 feet 

 high. Leaves sometimes bipinnate. Flowers white. Fruit oval, deep purple 

 or nearly black. Common Elder. 



2. S. jnibens Mich. : stem frutescent ; leaves pinnate ; leafets in 2 or 3 

 pairs, oval-lanceolate, and with the petioles pubescent beneath; thyrse 

 ovoid or pyramidal, loose. S. piihescens Pers. 



Rocky woods. Can. to Car. W. to Oregon. June, July. T^. — Stem 6 — 8, 

 sometimes 15, feet high. Flowers white. Fruit small, red, rarely white. Torr. 



Red-berried Elder. 



2. VIBURNUM. Linn.— Vihmnum. 

 (Origin of the name uncertain.) 

 Calyx with the limb small 5 -toothed and persistent. Co- 

 rolla rotate, subcampanulate or tubular, 5-lobed. Stamens 5, 



