xx. C*ELASTRA*CE,E: ^UO'NYMUS. 



149 



GENUS I. 



EUO'NYMUS Tow. THE EUONYMUS, or SPINDLE TREE. Lin. Syst. 

 Tetra-Hex-andria Monogynia. 



Identification. Tourn. Inst, t. 388. ; Lin. Gen., 271. ; Dec. Prod., 2. p. 3. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 3. 



Synonymes. Fusain, Bonnet de Pretre, or Bois a Lardoire, Fr. ; Spindelbaum, Ger. ; Evonimo, 

 Ital. 



Derivation. The word JEuonymus is formed from the Greek, and signifies of good repute. The 

 French word Fusain means a spindle, alluding to the use of the wood for making spindles. Bonnet 

 de Pretre alludes to the form of the capsules, which, when opened, bear some resemblance to a 

 priest's cap ; and it is called Bois a" Lardoire from the use made of the wood for skewers or larding 

 pins. The German name is literally spindle tree. 



Gen. Char. Calyx 4? 5-lobed, flat, covered by the peltate disk at the base. 

 Petals 46, spreading, inserted in the disk. Stamens 4 6, inserted above 

 the disk in rather prominent glands. Capsule 3 5-celled, 3 5-angled. 

 Seeds 1 4? in each cell, and wrapped in pulp or aril. (Don's Mill.) 



Leaves simple, opposite, serrate. Stipules mostly none. Peduncles axil- 

 lary, 1 many-flowered. Inflorescence cymose. Deciduous shrubs or low 

 trees ; sometimes trailing, or climbing by rootlets. 



& 1. E. EUROPJE V US L. The European Euonymus, or Spindle Tree. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 286. ; Dec Prod., 2. p. 4. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 3. 



Synonymes. E. vulgaris Mill. Diet. ; Prick-timber Gerard ; Louse Berry, Dogwood, Gatteridge 

 Tree ; Fusain d'Europe, Fr. ; Bonnet de Pretre commun, Fr. ; gemeine Spindelbaum, Ger. : Be- 

 rette di Prete, Ital. 



Derivation The English name Prick-timber, or Prick-wood, alludes to the employment of the wood 

 in making toothpicks and skewers, which were formerly called pricks ; and it is called Dogwood, 

 because the wood of Cornus sanguinea and that of the Euonymus europae'us are used indiscrimi- 

 nately for the same purposes, both being called Gatteridge Tree ; the meaning of which we do not 

 know. It is called Louse-wood, because the powdered leaves were formerly put on the heads of 

 children to chase away lice. 



Engravings. Smith's Eng. Bot., t. 362. ; the plate of the tree La Arb. Brit., 1st edit., vol. v. ; and 



Spec. Char.,$c. Branches smooth. Leaves lanceolate-ovate, very finely sawed. 

 Flowers about 3 upon one peduncle ; the petals oblong, rather acute. Lobes 

 of the capsule obtuse. (Dec. Prod.) A deciduous shrub, or low tree. 

 Europe and Britain, in hedges and copse woods. Height 6 ft. to 1 2 ft. 

 Flowers greenish white ; May. Fruit scarlet, produced in great abundance, 



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