CAPRIFOLIACE^E 



83 



the flowers terminal, and the bracts yellowish- 

 green. The calyx is absent in the male flowers, 

 and undivided in the female ; and there are 

 4 petals and stamens. The berries are white, and 

 very viscid ; they are ripe at Christmas, and as the 

 plant is an evergreen, it is much used at this season 

 to decorate houses. The berries are used to 

 prepare birdlime. 



The mistletoe was regarded as a sacred plant 

 by the Druids, especially when found growing 

 on the oak — a very rare occurrence, as it 

 very seldom attacks that tree. It was also 

 regarded as sacred by the ancient Germans, 

 because it never touches the ground. In the 

 Scandinavian mythology we find it in another light. 

 The goddess Frigga, when omens threatened her 

 son Balder with death, took oaths from all existing 

 things that they would not hurt him; only she 

 thought the mistletoe too weak to be dangerous, 

 and passed it over ; and subsequently a spear was 

 made of it, with which Balder was killed — for the 

 Scandinavian Gods were not immortal. A poem, 

 translated from the Swedish of Tegner on this 



subject, will be found in any edition of Long- 

 fellow's works under the title of Tegner's Drapa. 



Order XL I. Caprifoliacea (5 genera) 



Most of the plants belonging to this Order are 

 tall shrubs or climbing plants. The calyx and 

 ovary are combined; the former is usually 5 -cleft, 

 and there are 4 or 5 petals and stamens, the 

 stamens being inserted in the tube of the corolla. 

 The fruit is a berry with from 1 to 5 seeds. The 

 leaves are opposite. 



The Elder {Sambucus nigra) is a large bushy 

 shrub or small tree, which grows and spreads very 

 rapidly. The leaves are pinnate, and the leaflets 

 are long, pointed, and serrated. The white 

 flowers form large more or less rounded and 

 flattened clusters, called cymes, and are used to 

 prepare an infusion known as " elder-flower water." 

 The fruit is a black berry about the size of a 

 pea, containing several small seeds. It somewhat 

 resembles a small grape in appearance, and also 

 (slightly) in flavour. It was formerly much used 



