116 AMERICAN HANDBOOK 



opening by the middle. Seeds coated by a 

 colored arillus. 



1. E. ATROPURPUREUS, Jacquin. Leaves 

 elliptic ovate, acuminate, petiolate. Capsules 

 smooth. Dark purple spindle-tree. Native 

 of the Middle States. 



Under very favorable circumstances, and 

 with >good trimming when young, it will 

 make a small tree of fifteen feet high ; other- 

 wise it will scarcely come under the head of 

 Arboriculture. Its red capsules render it 

 very conspicuous in the fall. 



It thrives best in a deep rich loam, in a 

 somewhat shaded situation. It is readily 

 propagated by either seeds or layers. Seeds 

 should be sown as soon as ripe, or they will 

 not germinate for a season. They will come 

 up freely if sown in any moist, shady place. 



The best specimen at Bartram, on stony 

 soil, is about ten feet high. 



2. E. EUROPCEUS, Linnmus. Leaves smooth, 

 bluntly serrate, elliptical; flowers mostly 

 4-stamened; peduncles compressed, many- 

 flowered. Stigmas awl-shaped. Angles of 

 the capsules blunt. European spindle-tree. 

 Those who have seen this tree in English 



