AQ,UIFOLIACEjF.. 227 



ORDER LXXV. EBENACE^E. EBENADS. 



Flowers usually polygamous. Calyx in 3 7 nearly equal 

 divisions, persistent. Corolla 3 7-divided, deciduous, some- 

 what coriaceous. Stamens twice to four times as many as the 

 segments of the corolla. Ovary sessile, many-celled ; style di- 

 vided, seldom simple ; stigmas bifid or simple. Fruit fleshy, 

 few-seeded. Embryo in the axis of cartilaginous albumen. 

 Trees or shrubs, without milky juice. Leaves alternate, mostly 

 entire, without stipules. 



D1OSPYROS. Linn. Persimmon. 



(From the Greek A<f , Mag, Jupiter, and jrnpoj, grain or fruit ; the application 

 obscure.) 



Dioecious. Calyx 4 6-cleft. Corolla urceolate, 4 6-cleft. 

 STERILE FL. Stamens 8 16, often producing 2 anthers. FER- 

 TILE FL. Stamens about 8, abortive. Style divided. Stig- 

 mas simple, or 2 -cleft. Fruit globose or ovoid, 4 8-celled. 



D. Virginiana Linn. : leaves oval or ovate-oblong, acuminate, reticu- 

 lately veined, nearly smooth; petioles pubescent; buds smooth. 



Woods. N. Y. to Geor. and throughout the Western States. May. A small 

 tree, seldom more than 30 40 feet high. Leaves alternate. Floivers 1 3 to- 

 gether, axillary, on short peduncles, greenish-yellow. Fruii as large as a com- 

 mon plum, reddish-orange, well flavored when fully ripe, but very astringent 

 before that time. Common Persimmon. 



ORDER LXXVT. 



Sepals 4 6, imbricated in aestivation. Corolla 4 6-parted, 

 the stamens as many as the segments and alternating with them. 

 Ovary 2 6- or more-celled ; stigma subsessile, lobed. Fruit 

 fleshy, with 2 6 or more stones or nucules. Seed suspended, 

 with large fleshy albumen and small embryo. Trees or shrubs, 

 often with angular branches, and mostly with leathery ever- 

 green leaves. Flowers small, by abortion often polygamous. 



1. ILEX. Linn. Holly. 



(Etymology uncertain.) 



Flowers mostly perfect. Calyx 4 5-toothed, persistent. 

 Corolla 4 5 -parted nearly to the base, rotate. Stamens 4 5, 

 alternating with the petals. Ovary sessile, 4-celled. Stigmas 

 subsessile, 4 5, sometimes distinct, sometimes united. Fruit 

 with 4 5 ribbed or veined nucules. 



