204 



CELASTKACEAL. 



[chap. 



A more or less climbing pubescent shrub, with opposite 

 or nearly opposite, simple, entire leaves, and terminal and 

 axillary lax spikes of slender, reddish flowers. 



With Qiiisqualis compare Terminalia Catappa — a large 

 ornamental tree, common in gardens, with simple entire 

 leaves clustered towards the ends of the branches, and 

 small, whitish, apetalous, polygamous flowers, in axillary, 

 simple, erect racemes. 



Observe the one-celled ovary with pendulous ovules, 

 characteristic of the Family : the spirally-twisted cotyledons 

 of the single seed of the Terminalias. 



The kernels of the fruit of T. Catappa are in much esteem. 

 They are eaten as Almonds. The fruits — Myrobolans— of 

 other species of Terminalia (T. Bellerica and T. Chehda) are 

 astringent, and are exported to Britain for the use of tanners, 

 &c. Some of the Terminalias are valuable timber-trees. 



37. Natural Order, Celastracece. — The Spindle-tree Family. 

 Shrubs or trees, with opposite or alternate simple leaves 

 and minute flowers. Ovary more or less immersed in a 

 disk. Stamens alternate with the petals and equal in 

 number, or only three. 



Type — Celastrus paniculatus. 



