CELASTRACE/:. 
10 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. 
Australia.'! The genus is represented in central Asia,” and is widely scattered, with a number of 
species, through the Orient,’ and through temperate and southern Europe.* In North America two 
species occur in the Atlantic’ and one in the Pacific’ region, and three or four little known species 
inhabit southern Mexico.’ One of the Atlantic species is a small tree; the other American species are 
shrubs. 
The wood of Evonymus is moderately hard, close-grained, tough, and light-colored, sometimes 
nearly white. Knit- 
ting-needles and spindles* were long made from it, and it was once used in the manufacture of musical 
It has been used in Europe from the earliest ages for many domestic purposes. 
instruments and in cooperage;” in India it is sometimes carved into spoons and other household 
utensils,” and in China it is used in wood-engraving.” 
Many species of Evonymus are rich in bitter and astringent principles, and are drastic and slightly 
stimulant. The bark and especially the seeds of the European species’ are nauseous and purgative, 
and are believed to poison sheep,* while in India the leaves and young shoots of some of the species 
are cut for fodder." The yellow dye used by the Hindoos to make the sacred mark on the forehead is 
prepared from the bark” of Evonymus tingens, which is also employed in the treatment of ophthalmic 
troubles. The bark” of the American species is purgative and is employed in the preparation of decoc- 
tions, fluid extracts and tinctures,’ and in homoeopathic remedies. 
Several species of Evonymus are valued in gardens for their handsome foliage and brilliant fruit. 
The European species have been cultivated for centuries, and have developed numerous peculiar and 
°  Evonyiius Japonicus is one of the most ornamental of evergreen shrubs, and, with 
interesting forms.’ 
its numerous varieties, is common in the gardens of all the temperate parts of the world. A variety of 
this plant from the forests of central and northern Japan, the EHvonymus radicans” of gardens, with 
high climbing stems and small persistent leaves, has been largely cultivated in recent years, and replaces 
the Ivy in regions where the climate is too severe for that plant. 
Evdvvuoc, the classical name of the Spindle-tree,” was adopted by Tournefort,” and then by 
Linneus. 
14 Brandis, J. c. 
15 Le Maout & Decaisne, J. c. 
18 ‘Wallich ; Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. Carey, ii. 406. — Brandis, 
l. c. 79. — Hooker f. Fl. Brit. Ind. i. 615. 
17 Kuonic acid was obtained by Wenzel (Am. Jour. Pharm. 1862, 
It crystallizes in 
1 Evonymus Australianus, Mueller, Fragm. Phyt. Austral. iv. 118. 
2 Aitchison, Jour. Linn. Soc. xviii. 40. 
8 Boissier, Fl. Orient. ii. 8. 
* Nyman, Conspect. Fl. Europ. 144. 
5 Trelease, Trans. St. Louis Acad. v. 351. — Watson & Coulter, 
Gray's Man. ed. 6, 110. 
6 Brewer & Watson, Bot. Cal. i. 98. 
312) from the bark of Evonymus atropurpureus. 
acicular forms, and is precipitated by plumbic subacetate. Resin, 
7 Bentham, Pl. Hartweg. 36, 59.— Hemsley, Bot. Biol. Am. 
Cent. i. 188. 
8 Loudon, Arb. Brit. ii. 496. 
9 The vernacular name Spindle-tree, first applied to the Euro- 
pean species on account of its use in spindle-making, has been grad- 
ually transferred to the other species in all English-speaking coun- 
tries. 
10 Brandis, Forest Fl. Brit. Ind. 78. 
11 Jackson, Commercial Botany, 156. 
2 Evonymus Europeus, Linneus, Spec. 197. — De Candolle, 
Prodr.i.4.  E. latifolius, Seopoli, Fl. Carn. 325. — De Candolle, 
lic. E. verrucosus, Seopoli, Fl. Carn. 324. — De Candolle, J. ¢. 
13 Je Maout & Decaisne, Trait. Gén. Bot. English ed. 344. 
sugar, a bitter principle, asparagine, and tartaric, citric, and nitric 
acids have also been found in the bark of this species. (Mills- 
paugh, Am. Med. Pl. in Homeopathic Remedies, i. 42, t. 42.) 
18 Am. Jour. Pharm. xx. 80.— U.S. Dispens. ed. 14, 402. — Stillé 
& Maisch, Nat. Dispens. ed. 2, 559. 
19 Loudon, Arb. Brit. ii. 496. 
2° Evonymus Japonicus, var. radicans, Miquel, Prol. Fl. J ap. 
18. — Maximowicez, Bull. Aad. Sci. St. Peétersbourg, xxvii. 441 (Meél. 
Biol. xi. 178). 
E. radicans, Siebold in herb. ; Miquel, |. c. 366. — Franchet & 
Savatier, Enum. Pl. Jap. i. 79. 
21 Pliny, xiii. 22. 
22 Inst. 617, t. 388. 
