202 AMPELIDE^. (VINE FAMILY.) 



^ Thornless shrubs icith ^^ersistent, coriaceous leaves^ and racemedjlowers. 



1. R. Alaternus, L. 5 Zijrtn. 2 to 4, glabrous. Leaves pe- 

 tioled, ovate to elliptical, .04 to .07 long, remotely dentate. Racemes 

 axillary and terminal, short, dense ; calyx-lobes lanceolate, acute ; 

 petals ; drupe black, ovate-globular, as large as a small pea ; seed 

 yellow, with open groove — Spring — Copses and hillsides ; common 

 along coast and in mountains to 1000 m. 



* * Thorny shrubs or smalltrees,with persistent leaves and clustered JlotoerS' 



t Shrubs, icith short-petioled leaves and alternate branches. 



2. R. punctata, Boiss. 5 ^Ajram. 1 to 2, branches stiff intri- 

 cate. Leaves entire, glabrescent above, puberulent and netted-veined 

 below, obovate, oblong, or elliptical, with revolute margins, some- 

 times pellucid-dotted. Drupe as large as a small p)ea ; groove of seed 

 narrow, not bijid — Late spring — Copses and hedges ; common. 



Var. Palce§tiiia. Leaves remotely crenate,j\at — Common {B.. 

 Palmstina, Boiss.) 



Var. ang^ii§tifolia, Post. Leaves linear, and linear-sjKithulate, 

 with strongly revolute margins — Mountain above Wadi Qondil (North 

 of Lattakia plain.) 



3. R. Kurdica, Boiss. et Hoh. 5 1 ^^ 2. 5, branches zigzag. 

 Leaves pale green, tomentellous, obovate- or oblong-spathulate, obtuse 

 or acutish, remotely crenulate. Drupe as large as a marroiofat pea, 

 mottled, groove of seed bifid — May and June — Copses and hedges 

 — Amanus to Aintab, Marash, and northward. 



Var. obcordata, Post. Leaves sometimes obcordate — Castle of 

 Banias. 



Further study may show the last two species to be varieties or R. 

 oleoides, L. 



t t Small trees, icith long petioled leaves, the ujyper op)posite. 



4. R. petio]ari§, Boiss. 5 2 to 4, branches spreading. Leaves 

 a little longer than petiole, glabrous, oblong to ellijDtical, often .04 

 long, cuneate, round, or cordate at base, abruptly acuminate, cr.enate, 

 3-5-nerved. Drupe as large as a small pea — June — Aintab to Marash 

 and northward. The fruits, which are used as a dye stuff, under the 

 name of Persian Seeds, are exported to Europe. 



* * * Thornless shrubs with deciduous leaves, and clustered fioicers. 



5. R. Liibaiiotica, Boiss. § Tiffdhh-barri. 2 to 3, procumbent 

 at base. Leaves rounded at base, short-petioled, ovate or oblong, den- 

 ticulate, yellowish puberulent on both sides, veins pinnate, 12-15 on a 

 side. Drupe black, as large as a currant — Summer — Alpine Lebanon 

 and Antilebanon to Amanus and northward. 



Order XXXI. AMPEL.II>Ei«:. (Vine Family). 



Shrubs^ %oith watery juice ^ usually climhmg hy tendrils^ 

 with small.) regular^ her'niaj)hrodite or dioecious flowers , a 

 TYiinute truncated ^-^-toothed calyx., lined hy a sometimes 

 urn-shajyed dish, 4-5 j^etals inserted on outer margin of 

 dish, TKcl/vate^ alternate with calyx-teeth, and stamens as 



