184 VITACEAE 



CEANOTHUS OVATUS Desfontaines 

 Inland Jersey-Tea 



The Inland Jersey-Tea, fig. 45, is a small, erect shrub with 

 stems which are smooth throughout by the end of the season 

 and commonly reach a height of only 12 to 24 inches. Its very 

 short-petioled leaves are elliptic to lanceolate, ^ to 2 inches 

 long by 14 to 2 inches wide, obtuse at the apex, rounded or 

 narrowed at the base, glabrous beneath or at maturity some- 

 what hairy along the veins, and provided along the margins 

 with gland-tipped teeth. 



The tiny, white flowers are grouped in terminal clusters on 

 short peduncles or sometimes arise from the axils of upper 

 leaves. The fruit matures in autumn and is similar to that 

 of the Jersey-Tea, except that the capsules are smooth and the 

 seeds within the capsules are dark brown, somewhat longer 

 than those of the Jersey-Tea, and covered with pits. 



Distribution. — The Inland Jersey-Tea ranges from Ver- 

 mont to Manitoba and south to Maryland, Illinois and Texas. 

 In Illinois, it is a relatively rare shrub, apparently limited to 

 sandy habitats in the northern third of the state. It has been 

 reported from Cook, Lake, Whiteside, Jo Daviess and Han- 

 cock counties only. 



VITACEAE 

 The Grape Family 



The grape family consists of woody vines which climb by 

 means of tendrils and bear perfect, polygamous or dioecious 

 flowers in axillary racemes. There are 4 or 5 sepals and petals 

 in each flower, and the 4 or 5 stamens are situated opposite the 

 petals. The ovary consists of 2 united or, rarely, of 3 distinct 

 carpels, the styles of which are united and topped by capitate 

 or peltate stigmas. The fruit is a fleshy berry, which contains 

 1 or 2 seeds in each of its cavities. 



The members of the grape family are widely distributed over 

 the world and constitute some 500 species. They are grouped in 

 about 10 genera, 3 of which are native in northeastern United 

 States and in Illinois. Various native species are in cultivation, 

 both as ornamentals and as sources of food. The fruits of 

 certain wild grapes are sought for the making of jellies. 



