EUONYMUS 537 



EUONYMUS. SPINDLE-TREE. CELASTRACE^E. 



Few, if any, species of Euonymus have any beauty of flower. Their 

 value in the garden dwells in the beauty of their fruits, in the autumnal 

 colours of the foliage of some species, and in the rich evergreen foliage 

 of others. They are evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, or creeping 

 plants, with the young shoots often four-angled. The leaves are always 

 opposite and toothed in the cultivated species, except E. nanus. The 

 arrangement of the flowers is very characteristic in this genus ; they are 

 borne from May to June in cymes from the lower joints of the current 

 season's growth. There is first a slender main-stalk usually about i in. 

 long, which terminates in a single flower flanked by one at each side. 

 This three-flowered cyme is seen in E. europaeus and others ; but often 

 the main-stem forks instead of producing two side flowers into two parts, 

 each with its terminal flower and two side ones. The inflorescence is 

 then seven-flowered. Sometimes these secondary stems branch again 

 and the inflorescence becomes fifteen-flowered. 



The flowers are usually from J to J in. across, greenish, yellowish, or 

 white, rarely purple. The parts of the flower (sepals, petals, stamens, 

 and lobes of the fruit) are in fours or fives, which sometimes affords a 

 convenient means of distinction. The fruits are pendulous and highly 

 coloured, and are composed of three to five one-seeded cells or lobes 

 the lobes often angled, sometimes winged. The seed is partially covered 

 with an outer coat, known as the aril, which is usually brilliantly coloured 

 scarlet, orange, etc., and adds much to the effect of the fruit when the 

 cells burst. 



The only other genus of hardy shrubs with which Euonymus can be 

 confused is Celastrus, which has a similar fruit, but is well distinguished 

 by its alternate leaves. 



These plants are easily cultivated in a good, well-drained loam. Some 

 of the species, like E. atropurpureus and americanus, like a position 

 shaded during the hottest hours of the day, and all the evergreen sorts 

 grow, if they do not bear fruit well, in permanent, if not too dense, shade. 

 Propagation of the deciduous species is best effected by seeds. Failing 

 this method, cuttings or layers may be used ; cuttings of the evergreen 

 species and varieties take root very readily, and may be struck at almost 

 any season if a little bottom heat be given. 



Several species, notably E. europoeus and japonicus, are frequently 

 badly attacked by a caterpillar at the flowering season, which swarms on 

 the branches in cobwebby masses, feeding on the leaves and preventing 

 the formation of a crop of fruit. A quick and effective remedy is to 

 spray the tree with an arsenical wash. A solution of Paris green at the 

 strength of i oz. to 12 galls, of water may be used. 



E. ALATUS, Regel. 



A deciduous shrub of open but stiff habit, 6 to 8 ft. high, and more in 

 diameter, free from down in all its parts ; young branches at first square, two 



