174 CAPRIFOLIACEsE. [VinruxrM. 



Drupe dry or fleshy, terete or compressed, 1- or spuriously 2-3-celled, 

 1 -seeded. Seed compressed ; embryo minute. DISTRIB. Temp, and sub- 

 trop. regions of the N. hemisphere, Andes. ETYM. unknown. 



1. V. Lanta'na, L. ; scurfily pubescent, leaves broadly oblong-cordate 

 serrulate exstipulate, flowers all perfect. Wayfaring-tree. 



Dry copses and hedges, from Yorkshire southwards, naturalized elsewhere ; 

 fl. May-June. Shrubby, 6-20 ft. ; pubescence stellate. Leaves 2-4 in., 

 rugose, obtuse. C times flat-topped, rays stout. Flows \ in. diam., white, 

 2-bracteolate at the base. Corolla shortly funnel-shaped. Stamens shortly 

 exserted. JJrupe flattened, in., black when ripe. Seed grooved in front. 

 DISTRIB. Europe from Belgium southwards, N. Africa. Bark acrid. 



2. V. Op'wlus, L. ; subglabrous, leaves 3-lobed stipulate, outer flowers 

 larger neuter. Guelder-rose. 



Copses and hedges from Ross and Moray southwards ; rare in Scotland ; 

 common in Ireland ; fl. June- July. Shrubby, 6-8 ft., buds scaly ; branches 

 slender, lenticellate. Leaves 2-3 in., young downy, lobes unequal, serrate ; 

 stipules linear, glandular, adnate to the petiole. Cyme* 2-4 in. diam., 

 subglobose ; flowers white, outer f in. diam., rotate ; inner cream-white, 

 campanulate, ^ in. diam. Drupe $ in., subglobose, compressed, red, translu- 

 cent. Seed compressed, keeled on the flat surfaces. DISTKIB. Europe, 

 Siberia, Dahuria, E. and W. N. America. 



2. SAMBU cus, L. ELDER. 



Large herbs, shrubs, or trees ; branches stout, pith thick. Leaves pin- 

 nate. Flowers small, in umbellate corymbs or panicles, jointed on to the 

 pedicel, bracteolate. Calyx-limb 3-5-toothed. Corolla rotate or <am- 

 panulate, 3-5-partite. Stamens 5; anthers dehiscing outwardly or laterally. 

 Disk or convex. Ovary 3-5-celled ; style short, 3-5-partite, or stigmas 

 3-5 sessile ; ovules 1 in each cell, pendulous. Drupe with 3-5 cartilaginous 

 cells. Seed compressed ; embryo long. DISTRIB. All temp, regions 

 (S. Africa excepted) and trop. mountains ; species 10-12. ETYM. <ra/u- 

 &VKT], being formerly used for musical instruments. 



1. S. Ebulus, L. ; herbaceous, stipules leafy serrate, cymes 3-rayed 

 corymbose compact. Dwarf Elder, Dane-wort. 



Waste places, rare and local, from Forfar southwards ; introduced in Ireland ; a 

 denizen, WiUson ; fl. July- Aug. Glabrous. Rootstock creeping. Stems 2-4 ft., 

 many, stout, ribbed and grooved. Leaflets 4-6 in., 4-6 pair, oblong-lanceo- 

 late, serrate. Cyme 3-4 in. diam. -Corolla broadly campanulate, white 

 tipped with pink. Filaments crumpled. Berry small, globose, black. 

 DISTRIB. Europe, N. Africa. Plant foetid, emetic, and purgative. 



2. 8. ni'gra, L. ; a tree, stipules small or 0, cymes 5-rayed. Elder. 

 Hedges and thickets from Fife and Forfar southwards, ascending to 1,350 ft. 



in Yorkshire ; a denizen in Scotland, Watson ; fl. June. Trunk often as 

 thick as the thigh ; bark corky ; buds scaly ; branchlets angular, lenticellate. 

 Leaflets 2-4 pair, 1-3 in., ovate oblong or lanceolate, serrate. Cymes 4-6 in. 

 diam., flat-topped. Corolla \ in. diam., white, rotate, lobe's rounded. 

 Filaments slender. Berry small, globose, black, rarely green. DISTRIB. 

 Europe, N. Africa. Berries used for wine ; flowers for making perfumes. 

 The " Cut-leaved Elder," a laciniate-leaved variety, occurs as a garden 

 escape. 



