Euonymus. 205 



EUONYMUS. 



THIS genus of plants, though not especially large, 

 is widely distributed. It was known to the 

 ancient Greeks, and is said to have received its 

 name from Theophrastus by the combination of eu^ signi- 

 fying good, and onoma, name ; and it is thought that this 

 term may have been applied because the plant had the 

 reputation of being poisonous, especially to cattle and 

 other animals which might feed upon its leaves. The 

 application of a good name to an object as a cover for its 

 bad qualities, was somewhat common in those days, per- 

 haps for the charitable purpose of hiding defects and speak- 

 ing well of the unfortunate ; or possibly that no offence 

 should be given to the gods, whose workmanship it was not 

 deemed prudent to criticise. However this may be, the eu- 

 onymus is a good shrub, highly ornamental, and worthy of a 

 place in all our gardens. That its bark, leaves, and flowers 

 contain elements unfitting them for food is very true. Be- 

 cause of certain qualities the plant has long been esteemed 

 by physicians for its medicinal properties, but these are not 

 such as to render it dangerous to handle, or even to eat 

 in small quantities. Dr. Gray mentions only two hardy 

 species as indigenous to North America, and one variety. 

 E. americanus, or strawberry tree, is described as a low, 

 upright, or straggling bush, from two to five feet high, with 

 bright green ovate or oblong-lanceolate leaves, and green- 

 ish-purple flowers. The fruit, when ripened in autumn, is 

 crimson-scarlet, and very showy. This variety is found 

 mostly in moist situations, along the banks of streams, and 

 is of service for shady situations as an under-shrub. 



