240 BIOECIA. OCTANDRIA. 



Of this genus, besides the above, there are 4 species 

 indigenous to Europe, and 1 (the Athenian Poplar) to 

 the islands of the Archipelago. 



797. DIOSPYROS. L, (Persimon, Date-Plum.) 



Masc. Calix 4 to 6-cleft. Corolla urceo- 

 latc, 4 to 6-cleft. Stamina 8 to 16; filaments 

 often producing £ anthers. Fem. Flower as 

 the male. Stigmas 4 or 5. Berry 8 to 12-9€ed- 

 ed. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate and very entire leaves; 

 flowers axillary, subsessile; female flowers producing in- 

 fertile stamens. 



Species. 1. D. virginiana. ^. pnbescens. Oes. Branch- 

 -es crowded with leaves; female flowers solitary; males 

 by 3s, anthers villous. 



A genus of near 30 species, almost excbisively indige- 

 nous to India and its islands; there are also 3 species in 

 tropical America, 2 ut the Cape of Good Hope, 1 in Japan, 

 and another {D. Loins) common to Italy and Barbary. 



908. ^SHEPHERDIA.f 



Masc. Calix 4-cleft. Corolla none. Sta- 

 mina 8, included, alternating with 8 glands 

 Fem. Calix 4-rleft, campanulate, superior. 

 Style 1. Stigma obliqu* . Berry 1 -seeded. 



Small spinescent trees, with the aspect of Elceagmis; 

 leaves entire, covered with silvery scales; flowers small, 

 laterally aggregated; berries diaphanous, scarlet, acid. 



Species 1. S. cD^gentea. Leaves oblong-ovate, obtuse, 

 on bi>ih sides smooth and equally covered with silvery 

 scales. Ilippophae argentea. Ph. Flor. Am. 1 p. 115. Obs. 

 A small tree from 12 to 18 feet high; brancblets spines- 

 cent. Leaves oblong-ovate, obtuse, petiolate, on both 

 sides smooth ard covered with pelta.e scales which 

 (through a lens) aj^pear ciliated. .VJaie flowfis d vided 

 to ^'he base, segments subovate, obtuse, externa!l\ squa- 



\ In honour of Mr. John Shepherd, curator of the Boianicgar- 

 ^,en of Liverpool, a scientific horticulturist, 'iirougli whose 

 exertions and the patronage of the Celebrated Roscoe, that in* 

 Btitution owes its present merit. 



