QUASSIA FAMILY. 83 



spring, preceding the leaves, either the sepals or petals wanting ; pistils 3-5 

 with slender styles ; the little pods about the size and shape of pepper-corns, 

 lemon-scented, raised fi'om the receptacle on thickish stalks. 



Z. Carolini^num, Southekn P. Sandy coast S. ; a small tree, the 

 bark armed with warty and the leafstalks with very slender prickles, smooth, 

 with 7-9 ovate or lance-ovate leaflets, and whitish flowers in a terminal cyme, 

 in early summer, later than the leaves, Avith the petals and sepals both present, 

 3 or 2 shortcstyled pistils, and pods not stalked. 



4. PTELEA, HOP-TREE. (The ancient Greek name for the Elm, from 

 the resemblance in the winged fruit.) 



P. trifolikta, Thrke-leaved H. Rocky woods from Penn. S. & W. ; 

 a tall shrub or small tree, with ovate pointed leaflets, and a terminal cyme of 

 small greenish-white unpleasantly scented flowers, in early summer ; the orbic- 

 ular winged fruit bitter, used as a substitute for hops. 



5. SKIMMIA. {Skimini is the name in Japan, from which country the 

 common species was recently introduced into ornamental cultivation.) 



S. Japonica, a low quite hardy shrub, smooth, with oblong and entire 

 bright-green evergreen leaves crowded on the end of the branches, which in 

 spring arc terminated with close panicle or cluster of small and white sweet- 

 scented flowers, of no beauty, but followed by bright red berries which last over 

 winter. 



6. CITRUS, CITRON, ORANGE, &c. (Ancient name for C/<ron.) Na- 

 tives of India, &c., cultivated with us only for ornament. Flowers white, 

 very sweet-scented, rather showy. The species or varieties are much con- 

 fused or mixed. 



C. vulgaris, Bitter Orange, with broadly Avinged petiole ; fruit with a 

 thin roughish rind and acrid bitter pulp. 



C. Aurantium, Saveet Orange, Avith a very narrow wing or slight 

 margin to the petiole ; fruit globose, Avith a smooth and thin separable rind 

 and a SAveet pulp. 



Var. myrtifblia. Myrtle-leaved or Chinese Orange, dAvarf, Avith 

 small leaves (1'- Ij' long) and small fruit, depressed or sunken at the apex. 



C. Lirabnium, Leaion, Avith a narroAv wing or margin to the petiole, 

 oblong and acute toothed leaves, petals commonly purplish outside, and fruit 

 OA'oid-oblong, Avith adherent rind ^nd a very acid pulp. 



C. Limetta, Luie, Avith Avingless petiole, roundish or oval serrate leaves, 

 and globular fruit Avith a Arm rind and sweetish pulp. 



C. Medica, Citron (named from the country, Media), Avith Avingless 

 petiole, oblong or oval acute leaves, petals purplish outside, and a large oblong 

 SAveet-scented fruit with a very thick roughish adherent rind, and slightly acid 

 pulp. 



29. SIMARUBACE^, QUASSIA FAMILY. 



May be regarded as Rutaceoe without transparent dots in the 

 leaves ; here represented by a single tree, the 



1. AILANTHUS, CHINESE SUMACH or TREE-OF-HEAVEN. 



(Ailanto, a native name.) Flowers polygamous, small, greenish, in terminal 

 branched panicles, Avith 5 short sepals and 5 petals, 10 stamens in the sterile 

 floAvcrs and fcAV or ncme in the fertile ; the latter Avith 2 to 5 ovaries (their 

 styles lateral, united or soon separate), which in fruit become linear-oblong 

 thin and membranaceoiis veiny samaras or keys, like those of Ash on a 

 smaller scale, but 1 -seeded in the middle. 



A. glandulbsus, the only species knoAvn here, from China, is a common 

 shade-tree, tall, of rai)id growth, Avith hard Avood, very long jjinnate leaves, and 

 many obliquely lanceolate entire or sparingly sinuate leaflets ; flowers in early 

 summer, the staminate very ill-scented. 



