238 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



Stem 6 to 10 feet high, with numerous opposite branches. Leaves 1 to 1 J^ inches 

 long, yarying from lanceolate and acute, to oblanceolate and obtuse, hardy anil 

 persisting green through half the winter; petioles %to% of an inch in length. 

 Corolla white, the tube longer than the calyx. Berries black (sometimes whitv, 

 or greenish). 

 Bab. Roadsides. Nat. of Europe. PL June. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. This shrub was brought from England, by the early settlers 

 of Chester County, for the purpose of hedging; but it did not 

 answer. I recollect numerous vestiges of those early hedges, about 

 the close of the last century; but they have now (1852) all disap- 

 peared. The shrub, however, is naturalized to some extent. 



341. CIIIOJVAtf'THUS, L. 



[Gr. Chion, snow, and anthos, a flower; from Its snow-white blossoms.] 

 Calyx very small, 4-parted, persistent. Corolla of 4 long linear 

 petals, slightly connected at base. Stamens 2 (sometimes 3 or 4), 

 very short. Stigma emarginate. Drupe oval; nut striate, 1-seeded; 

 seed without albumen! Small trees: buds remarkably 4-cornered 

 and pyramidal ; leaves entire ; flowers in loose pendulous trichotomous 

 racemes. 



1. C. VIrginIca, L. Leaves oval, or obovate-lanceolate, sub- 

 coriaceous, smoothish; racemes terminal and axillary. 

 VIRGINIAN CHIONANTHTJS. Fringe-tree. 



Stem 10 to 20 feet high, with spreading branches. Leaves 4 to 6 inches long, acute 

 at each end; petioles about half an inch in length. Racemes 3 or 4 inches long, 

 gomewhat paniculate, the terminal pedicels by threes. Petals white, nearly an 

 inch long. Drupes of a livid blackish color when mature. 

 Sab. Banks of West Brandy wine : rare. Fl. June. Fr. 



Obs. The singular beauty of this ornamental little tree is begin- 

 ning to be appreciated, by our people; and it is, consequently, 

 making its appearance in the yards, and lawns, of all persons of 

 taste. The mature fruit has a remarkably disagreeable bitterish 

 taste, and therein shows its affinity to the type of the Order. 

 "Ripe olives," says Sir J. E. SMITH, in his Correspondence, "are 

 purple like a damson, but of the most abominable bitter taste." 



b. Leaves odd-pinnate; fruit samaroid. 



342. FRAX'KVITS, Tournef. 

 [The classical Latin name ; meaning rather obscure.] 



Polygamo-dioicous: Calyx 4-cleft, or obsolete. Corrolla of 2 or 4 

 oblong petals, or (as in the North American species,) wholly 

 wanting. Stamens mostly 2. Style single ; stigma bifid. Fruit a 

 1- or 2-celled Samara, compressed, winged at apex. Trees: flowers 

 (dioicous in the U. States) small, in crowded panicles, or racemes, 

 from the axils of last year's leaves, the staminate ones in dense 

 dark-brown clusters. 



t Calyx present, 3- or ^toothed ; leaflets 7 to 9, petioltdate, nearly or quite entire. 



1. F. Americana, L. Leaflets oblong-ovate, somewhat pjubes- 



