SPINDLE WOOD 151 



seeds are enclosed in an orange arillus. The embryo is surrounded by 

 albumen. 



The styles are surrounded by a fleshy disk containing honey in a 

 thin layer, accessible to short-lipped insects. It is tricecious. There 

 are staminate flowers with rudimentary pistils, and pistillate flowers 

 with rudimentary stamens, and hermaphrodite flowers which are male 

 as a rule in function, and rarely produce seeds. 



The flowers have no attraction except to flies, which cross the 

 flowers in every direction with outspread labellse, touching anthers and 

 stigmas in different places. Four anthers stand out some distance from 

 the stigma on rigid anther-stalks and open outwards, when the stigma 

 is not ripe, and the lobes are not outspread. They separate on the 

 second day, and after pollination has ensued. Only by a separation 

 of the sexual organs is it possible for cross-pollination of the plant to 

 take place, while self-pollination cannot happen. 



The Spindle Tree is visited by Diptera (Syrphidse, Muscidse, 

 Bibioniclse), Hymenoptera (Formicidse). It is dispersed by the agency 

 of animals. The fruit is edible, and the seeds are dispersed by 

 animals. The two cotyledons are green. 



Spindle Tree is partly a humus-loving plant requiring a humus soil, 

 and partly a sand plant, and living on sand soil. 



C&oma euonymi forms yellow pustules on the leaves and young 

 branches. Death's Head Hawk Moth, Copper Underwing (Amphi- 

 pyra pyramidid], Scorched Carpet (Ligdia adustata], Theristis candella, 

 and Acrobasis angustella, Hyponomeuta cognatella, H. plembelliLS, 

 H. euonymelluS) Abraxas adustata, and the Homoptera, Aphis euonymi, 

 Siphonophora pisi, attack it. 



Euonym^ls, Theophrastus, is from two Greek words, denoting to- 

 gether "having a good name", therefore lucky, prosperous. 



The English names are: Ananbeam, Butcher's Prick-tree, Cat-rash 

 or Cat Rush, Cat-tree, Cat-wood, Death Alder, Dogrise, Dogtooth 

 Berry, Dogtree, Dogwood, Foul -rush, Gaclrise, Gaiter- tree, Gaten- 

 tree, Gatteridge, Louse Berry, Pincushions, Prickwood, Skewer-wood, 

 Skiver, Skiver-timber, Spoke Wood, Witch Wood. Prick timber, &c., 

 refers to its use as skewers, &C., and so does Skewer- wood. It was 

 called Cat Rush, &c., "perhaps from having a green bark like a rush ". 

 In Bucks it is unlucky to bring it into the house. The name Dogwood 

 was supposed to be given because a preparation of the leaves was 

 given to dogs to drive away vermin, and the name Louse Berry was 

 given because the berries when sprinkled on the hair destroy lice. 



The wood is very hard, hence its employment in making skewers. 



