110 CELASTRACE^E. ( STAFF-TREE FAMILY.) 



1. CELASTIITJS, L. STAFF-TREE. SHRUBBY BITTER-SWEET. 



Flowers polygamo-dicecious. Petals (crenulate) aud stamens 5, inserted on 

 the margin of a cup-shaped disk which lines the base of the calyx. Pod glo- 

 bose (orange-color and berry-like), 3-celled, 3-valved, loculicidal. Seeds 1 or 2 

 in each cell, erect, enclosed in a pulpy scarlet aril. Leaves alternate. Flowers 

 small, greenish, in raceme-like clusters terminating the branches. (An ancient 

 Greek name for some evergreen, which our plant is not.) 



1. C. SCandens, L. (WAX-WORK. CLIMBING BITTER-SWEET.) Twin- 

 ing shrub; leaves ovate-oblong, finely serrate, pointed. Along streams and 

 thickets. June. The opening orange-colored pods, displaying the scarlet 

 covering of the seeds, are very ornamental in autumn. 



2. EUONYMUS, Tourn. SFIXBLE-TREE. 



Flowers perfect. Sepals 4 or 5, united at the base, forming a short and flat 

 calyx. Petals 4-5, rounded, spreading. Stamens very short, inserted on the 

 edge or face of a broad and flat 4 -5-angled disk, which coheres with the calyx 

 and is stretched over the ovary, adhering to it more or less. Style short 

 or none. Pod 3 -5-lobed, 3- 5-ralved, loculicidal. Seeds 1-4 in each cell, 

 enclosed in a red aril. Shrubs, with 4-sided hranchlets, opposite serrate 

 leaves, and loose cymes of small flowers on axillary peduncles. (Derivation 

 from fit, good, and uvo/j.a, name, because it has the bad reputation of poisoning 

 cattle. Tourn.) 



1. E. atropurpureus, Jacq. (BuRNixo-Brsn. WAAHOO.) Shrub 

 tall (6-14 high) and upright; leaves petioled, oval-oblong, pointed; parts of 

 the (dark -purple) flower commonly in fours ; pods smooth, deeply lobed. N. Y. 

 to Wise., Neb., and southward ; also cultivated. June. Ornamental in autumn, 

 by its copious crimson fruit, drooping on long peduncles. 



2. E. Americanus, L. (STRAWBERRY BCSH.) Shrub low, upright or 

 straggling (2-5 high); leaves almost sessile, thickish, bright green, varying 

 from ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acute or pointed ; parts of the greenish-purple 

 flowers mostly in fives ; pods rough-warty, depressed, crimson when ripe ; the 

 aril and dissepiments scarlet. Wooded river-banks, N. Y. to 111., and south- 

 ward. June. 



Var. obovatUS, Torr. & Gray. Trailing, with rooting branches ; flower- 

 ing stems 1-2 high; leaves thin and dull, obovate or oblong. Low or wet 

 places ; the commoner form. 



3. PACHYSTIMA, Raf. 



Flowers perfect. Sepals and petals 4. Stamens 4, on the edge of the broad 

 disk lining the calyx-tube. Ovary free ; style very short. Pod small, oblong, 

 2-celled, loculicidally 2-valved. Seeds 1 or 2, enclosed in a white membrana- 

 ceous many-cleft aril. Low evergreen shrubs, with smooth serrulate coria- 

 ceous opposite leaves and very small green flowers solitary or fascicled in the 

 axils. (Derivation obscure.) 



1. P. Canbyi, Gray. Leaves linear to linear-oblong or oblong-obovate, 

 obtuse, 3"-!' long; pedicels very slender, often solitary, shorter than the 

 leaves ; fruit 2" long. Mountains of S. W. Va. 



