Order 42.— CELASTRACE./E. 289 



ginatc scale above the base ; the 2 lower remote from the stamens, 

 their scales crested ; stamens 8, unequal ; style trifid ; capsule mem- 

 branous, inflated. — Climbing herbs with biternate lvs. Lower pair of 

 pedicels changed to tendrils. 



C. Haliacaburn L. Plant nearly glabrous ; lfts. ovate-lanceolate, incisely lobed and 

 dentate; fr. pyriform-globous, large, bladder-like. — Native on the Missouri and 

 its branches, Torr. & Gr. Naturalized in the Western States, Mead. A curious 

 vine, 4 to Gf in length, with remarkably, large, inflated, membranous cotp- 

 sules. Jl. § 



4. STAPHYLEA, L. Bladder-nut. (A Greek word, meaning a 

 cluster of grapes ; from the form of the fructification.) Fls. $ ', calyx 

 of 5, colored, persistent sepals ; petals and stamens 5 ; styles 3 ; cap- 

 sules 2 to 3, membranous and inflated; seeds not ariled. Shrubs with 

 opposite, 3 to 7-foliate lvs. and caducous stipules. 



S. trifolia L. Lvs. ternate ; rac. pendulous ; pet. ciliate below ; fr. ovate. — A hand- 

 some shrub, 6 to 8f high, in moist woods and thickets, Can. to Car. and Tenn. 

 Lfts. oval-acuminate, serrate, pale beneath, with scattered hairs. Fls. white, very 

 elegant, in a short, drooping raceme. The most remarkable feature of the plant 

 is its large, inflated capsules, which are 3-sided, 3-parted at top, 3-celled, contain- 

 ing several hard, small nuts or seeds, with a bony, smooth and polished testa. 

 May. 



Order XLIL CELASTRACE^E. Staff Trees. 



Shrubs with simple leaves alternate or opposite, with flowers small, regular, 4 or 

 6-merous, perigynous, sepals and petals both imbricated in aestivation, stamens alter- 

 nate with the petals and inserted on a disk which fills up the bottom of the calyx; 

 carpels 2 to 5, styles united. (Fig. 460.) Fruit free from the calyx with 2 to 5 cells. 

 Seeds ariled, few, albuminous. 



An order closely related to the last, embracing: about 30 genera and 200 fipecie.% chiefly inhab- 

 iting the temperate zone of each hemisphere. They possess acrid and bitter properties, some- 

 times emetic and stimulant. 



1. CELASTRUS, L. Staff-tree. Flowers often imperfect; calyx 

 flat, of 5 united sepals ; corolla spreading, of 5 sessile petals ; capsule 

 subglobous, or 3-angled, 3-celled ; seeds with an arillus, 1 to 2 in each 

 cell. — Climbing shrubs, with alternate, deciduous lvs. and minute, de- 

 ciduous stipules. 



C. scandens L. Unarmed; st. woody, twining; lvs. oblong, acuminate, serrate; 

 rac. terminal ; fls. dioecious. — A climbing shrub in woods and thickets, the stems 

 twining about other trees or each other, ascending to a great height. Lvs. alter- 

 nate, stipulate, petiolate, smooth. Fls. in small racemes, greenish white. Sds. 

 covered with a scarlet aril, and contained in a 3-valved capsule, continuing upon 

 the stem through the winter. Jn. 



3. EU6NYHUS, Tourn. Spindle Tree. (Gr. ev, good, Zvofia, 

 name.) Flowers perfect; calyx flat,*of 5 (sometimes 4 or 6) united 

 sepals ; corolla flat, inserted on the outer margin of a glandular disk ; 

 stamens 5, with short filaments ; capsule colored, 5-angled, 5-celled, 

 5-valved; seeds ariled. — Shrubs erect or trailing, with opposite, ser- 

 rate lvs. 

 1 E. atropurpureus Jacq. Spindle Tree. Burning Bcsh. Branches smooth ; 



lvs. elliptic-ovate, petiolate, acuminate, finely serrate, puberulent beneath; ped. 



compressed, many-flowered; fls. usually 4-merous; capsule smooth, lobed. — A 



smooth shrub, 4 to lOf high, in shady woods, U. S., E. of the Miss. Lvs. 2 to 5' 



19 



