606 



BOTANY 



PART II 



shrub, is extremely poisonous. Species of Pistacia (Mediterranean region) have 

 pinnate leaves. P. vera is cultivated on account of its drupaceous fruits called 

 Pistachio nuts. 



Family 2. Aquifoliaceae. — Ilex aquifolium, the Holly, is an evergreen shrub 

 or tree of Western Europe (Fig. 613). Flower tetramerous throughout. In each 

 loculus of the ovary is a pendulous ovule. I. "paraguariensis in extra-tropical South 

 America yields Paraguay Tea or Mate. Centre of distribution in Central and 

 Southern America. 



Family 3. Celastraceae. — Euonymus europaea, the Spindle tree (Figs. 614, 615), 



Fio. fil5. — Euonymus enropnea. A, Flowering branch (reduced) ; B, a flower (magnified) ; 

 <\ D, the fruit (nat. size). {B-D, after Engi.kr-Pranti,.) Voisonovh. 



is a British shrub with inconspicuous tetramerous flowers. The stamens arc in- 

 serted at the margin of a large disc ; two ovules in each loculus. In autumn the 

 bright red arillus of the seeds, which hang by their stalks from the opened pale 

 red capsule, makes tlio fruit conspicuous. The family is generally distributed. 



Family 4. Aceraceae. — Trees with opposite leaves. Tlie Howers show a 

 tendency to become unisexual by abortion of stamens or carpels. Disc intra- or 

 extra-staminal. Carpels two. Fruit, a winged scliizocarp (Fig. 616). Family of 

 boreal origin. In Britain Acer camjjcsirc and A.2iseudoplatanus. The characteristic 

 lobed outline and palmate nervation of the leaves, as a rule, enable the genus to be 

 readily recognised. 



