124 CELASTRACE.E. 



cent Root dark red. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, ovate or oblong-ovate, 

 obtuse or slightly acuminate, 3-ribbed, serrate, pubescent beneath ; some- 

 times slightly cordate at the base. Flowers in axillary clusters, appearing 

 in July. 



Habitat. Common in dry woodlands from Canada to Florida and west- 

 ward. 



Parts Used. The leaves and root not official. 



Constituents. Both the leaves and root are astringent and contain a 

 considerable percentage of tannin. 



Preparations. None are official. There are commercial fluid extracts 

 fairly representing the plant ; the decoction is most commonly used. 



Medical Properties and Uses. The leaves were used during the Revolu- 

 tion and also to some extent during the late Civil War as a substitute for 

 tea, and both leaves and root have been employed internally and topically 

 as astringents. 



CELASTRACE/E. 



Character of the Order. Shrubs or small trees, with alternate, rarely 

 opposite, simple leaves: Flowers in small axillary cymes, small, green, 

 white, or purple ; sepals and petals 4 or 5, imbricate in the bud ; stamens 

 4 or 5, alternate with the petals, inserted on a large disk which surrounds 

 and encloses the ovary. Fruit 2- to-5 celled, capsular or drupaceous ; seeds 

 arilled. 



An order comprising thirty-five genera. Represented in North Amer- 

 ica by seven two only, Celastrus and Euonymus, comprising medicinal 

 species. 



CELASTRUS. -STAFF TREE. 



Celastrus scandens Linn6. Woody Bittersweet. 



Description. Calyx turbinate, 5-cleft. Corolla : petals 5, ovate or ob- 

 long, sessile. Stamens inserted into the margin of the fleshy disk. Ovary 

 surrounded by the disk, 3-celled ; styles 3, united. Fruit a globular cap- 

 sule, orange-colored, 3-celled, 3-valved, the valves at maturity opening and 

 folding backward, exposing the seeds enclosed in a fleshy, crimson aril. 



A twining shrub, often climbing trees to the height of twenty or thirty 

 feet. Leaves ovate-oblong, finely serrate, pointed. Flowers polygamo- 

 dioacious, inconspicuous, appearing in June. Fruit very ornamental, and 

 often gathered for household decoration. 



Habitat. Borders of woods and streams and along old fences, from 

 Canada to Carolina and westward. 



Part Used. The bark not official. 



Constituents. The bark has a sweetish, nauseous taste. Its chemical 

 constituents are unknown, 



