142 CELASTRACE^. Econymus. 



2. EuoNYMUS Americanus, Linn. (Plate XX.) Strawberry,-tree. 



Branches smooth, 4-sided ; leaves varying from elliptical-lanceolate to oval-obovate, slightly 

 crenate-serrate, smooth ; petioles very short ; peduncles !• - 3-flowered ; parts of the flower 

 mostly in fives ; petals roundish-obovate ; capsules depressed-globose, vorrucose. — Willd. 

 5p. 1. p. 1132 ; Michx. fl. 1. p. 155 ; Duham. arh. 3. t 9 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 292 ; Torr. fl. 1. 

 p. 261 ; DC. prodr. 2. p. i ; Hook. fl. Bor--Am. 1. p. 119 ;. Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 150 ; 

 Torr. 4- Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 256. 



var. 1 : erect, oval, oblong, or elliptical-lanceolate, sometimes a little falcate, var. a. & ^. 

 Torr. 4- Gr. I. c. 



var. 2 : trailing and often rooting ; leaves ovate-lanceolate. Torr. ^ Gr. I. c. E. Ameri- 

 canus, var. sarmentosus, Nutt. gen. 1. p. 154. 



var. 3 : trailing and rooting, with short erect branches ; leaves obovate or oval-obovate, 

 obtuse or slightly acuminate, acute at the base. Torr. cj- Gr. I. c. E. obovatus, Nutt. I. c. 



The common or upright variety is a shrub from 2 to 5 feet high ; the prostrate form is 

 2-3 feet long, with erect flowering branches about a span high. Leaves 1-3 inches long, 

 somewhat coriaceous : petioles 1-2 lines long. Flowers about one-third of an inch in 

 diameter, flat when expanded. Segments of the calyx very short, or nearly obsolete. Petals 

 greenish-yellow with a tinge of purple ; the claw short. Capsule 6-7 lines in diameter, 

 densely covered with acute warts, of a bright crimson when mature ; the dissepiments and 

 arillus of a scarlet color. Seeds whitish, ovoid, smaller than in the preceding species, 1-3 

 in each cell. 



Moist woods, and in swamps ; western part of the State : rather rare. Fl. June. Fr, 

 October. 



Order XXXIV. RHAMNACE^. Juss. The Buckthorn Tribe.. 



Calyx of 4 - 5 sepals united at the base, valvate in gestivation. Petals 4-5, 

 cucullate or convolute, inserted on the throat of the calyx, sometimes wanting. 

 Stamens as many as the petals, and opposite them ! Ovary usually cohering 

 with the tube of the calyx, more or less immersed in the fleshy disk, composed 

 of 2 - 4 united carpels, 2 - 4-celled, with a single erect ovule in each cell : 

 styles more or less united : stigmas simple, usually distinct. Fruit a capsule, 

 berry or drupe, commonly more or less cohering with the calyx. Seeds erect, 

 without an arillus : albumen fleshy, or rarely none. Embryo nearly as large 



