AQUIFOLIACE^. 227 



Order LXXV. EBENACE^.— Ebsnads. 



Flowers usually polygamous. Calyx in 3 — 7 nearly equal 

 divisions, persistent. Corolla 3 — Y-divided, deciduous, some- 

 what coriaceous. Stamens twice to foiu- times as many as the 

 segments of the corolla. Ovary sessile, many-celled ; style di- 

 vided, seldom simple ; stigmas bifid or simple. Fruit fleshy, 

 few-seeded. Embryo in the axis of cartilaginous albumen. — 

 Trees or shrubs, without milky juice. Leaves alternate, mostly 

 entire, without stipules. 



DIOSPYROS. i^mw.— Persimmon. 



(From the Greek A'ls, 6ios, Jupiter, and nvpos, grain or fruit: the application 

 obscure.) 



Dioecious. Calyx 4— 6-cleft. Corolla urceolate, 4— 6-cleft. 

 Sterile Fl. Stamens 8 — 16, often producing 2 anthers. Fer- 

 tile Fl. Stamens about 8, abortive. Style divided. Stig- 

 mas simple, or 2-cleft. Fruit globose or ovoid, 4 — 8-celled. 



D. Virginiana Linn. : leaves oval or ovate-oblong, acuminate, reticu- 

 lately veined, nearly smooth ; petioles pubescent ; buds smooth. 



Woods. N. Y. to Geor. and throughout the Western States. May.— A small 

 tree, seldom more than 30—40 feet high. Leaves alternate. Flowers 1—3 to- 

 gether, axillary, on short peduncles, greenish-yellow. Fruit as large as a com- 

 mon plum, reddish-orange, well flavored when fully ripe, but very astringent 

 before that time. Common Persimmon. 



Order LXXVI. AQUIFOLIACE^.-^Hollyworts. 



Sepals 4 — 6, imbricated in sestivation. Corolla 4 — 6-parted, 

 the stamens as many as the segments and alternating with them. 

 Ovaiy 2 — 6- or more-celled ; stigma subsessile, lobed. Fruit 

 fleshy, with 2 — 6 or more stones or nucules. Seed suspended, 

 with large fleshy albumen and small embryo. — Trees or shrubs, 

 often with angular branches, and mostly with leathery ever- 

 green leaves. Flowers small, by abortion often polygamous. 



1. ILEX. Z.m?i.— Holly. 

 (Etymology uncertain.) 

 Flowers mostly perfect. Calyx 4 — 5-toothed, persistent 

 Corolla 4 — 5-parted nearly to the base, rotate. Stamens 4 — 5, 

 alternating with the petals. Ovary sessile, 4-celled. Stigmas 

 subsessile, 4 — 5, sometimes distinct, sometimes united. Fruit 

 with 4 — 5 ribbed or reined nucules. 



