HAMAMELIDACE^E. 141 



. 4^4. Spinosa Linn. : arborescent ; stem egad petioles prickly ; learns doubly 

 or triply pinnate ; leafets ovate, acuminate, sessile ; umbels numerous, in 

 compound panicles ; involucre small, few-leaved. 



Fertile woods. Perm, to Geor. W. to Miss. Aug., Sept. T?. Stem 812 

 'sometimes 30 or 40)) feet high, with the leaves crowded at the summit. Flowers 

 white, in very large terminal panicles. A watery infusion of the bark is said to 

 be both emetic and cathartic. Ell. Sk. i. 373. Angelica Tree. 



2. PANAX. Linn. Ginseng. 



(From the Greek nav, all, and aicds, a cure ; being considered by the Chinese 

 as a remedy for all diseases.) 



Calyx with the margin very short and obsoletely 5-toothed. 

 Petals 5. Stamens 5, inserted under the margin of the disk 

 and alternating with the sepals. Styles 2 3, short. Fruit 

 fleshy, compressed, orbiculate or didymous, 2 -celled ; cells 1- 

 seeded. Flowers in simple umbels, polygamous. 



1. P. quinquefolium Linn.: root fusiform, sometimes branched; stem 

 angular ; leaves ternate-quinate ; leafets on distinct petioles, oval, acumi- 

 nate, serrate ; peduncles shorter than the petioles ; styles and seeds '2. 



Woods. Can. to Geor. June, July. 7J.. Root 3 6 inches long and aro- 

 matic. Stem about a foot high, divided at the top. Flowers greenish-yellow, 

 8 16 in an umbel. The root is highly esteemed by the Chinese for its supposed 

 medicinal properties. Common Ginseng. 



2. JP. trifolium Linn. : root roundish ; stem simple, smooth ; leaves ter- 

 nate ; leafets subsessile, oblong-lanceolate, serrate ; styles often 3 ; berry 

 3-seeded. 



Woods. Can. to Geor. May. 1J.. Stem 4 6 inches high. Leaves rarely 

 quinate. Flowers white, 20 40 in an umbel. Dwarf Ginseng. 



ORDER LXII. HAMAMELIDACEJE. WITCHHAZELS. 



Calyx adherent, in 4 or 5 pieces. Petals 4 or 5, or none. 

 Stamens 8, 4 alternate with the petals, and 4 sterile placed at 

 the base of the petals. Ovary 2-celled ; styles 2. Fruit half 

 inferior, capsular, usually opening with two septiferous valves. 

 Seeds pendulous ; albumen horny. Small trees or shrubs, with 

 alternate deciduous leaves. Flowers axillary, often polyga- 

 mous, 



HAMAMELIS. Linn. Witchhazel. 

 (Origin of the name uncertain.) 



Calyx 4-lobed, with 2 3 bracteoles at the base. Petals 4, 

 long, ligulate. Sterile stamens scale-like, and opposite th" 

 petals. Styles 2, short. Capsule coriaceous, 2-celled, 2-valvei, 

 at the top. 



