Dicotyledones. 91 



2-4, mostly 2, inserted on the corolla. Ovary superior, 2-celled, and 

 with 2, or at most a few, ovules in each cavity. Fruit a berry, drupe, 

 samara, or capsule. 



I. SYRINGA. Lilac. 



(Gr., syrinx, a pipe, possibly relating to the narrow tube of the corolla.) 



Shrubs, with simple, entire, opposite leaves and dense panicles of 

 gamopetalous flowers. Calyx mostly 4-toothed. Corolla salver-formed 

 with a 4-lobed limb. Stamens 2, inserted near the summit of the corolla 

 tube. Ovary 2-celled with 2 ovules in each cell. Style elongate ; stigma 

 2-cleft. Fruit a narrowly oblong capsule. Natives of the Old World, 

 cultivated for ornament. 



1. Syringa vulgaris, L. (L,., vulgaris, common.) COMMON LILAC. A shrub, 

 common in gardens. Leaves ovate, somewhat cordate at base, acuminate at the 

 apex, green and smooth on both sides. Flowers lilac or pale violet, in compact, 

 terminal panicles or thyrses appearing soon after the leaves, fragrant. A white 

 variety also occurs. 



2. Syringa Persica, L. PERSIAN LILAC. Base of leaves narrower and some- 

 what tapering ; leaves nearly lance-ovate. 



H. FRAXINUS. Ash. 



(The classical Latin name.) 



Trees, with opposite, odd-pinnate leaves and polygamous or dioecious 

 flowers in dense panicles or racemes in the axils of last year's leaves. 

 Calyx small, 4-cleft, or toothed, or entire, sometimes wanting. Petals 

 2-4, or wanting. Stamens usually 2, sometimes 3-4. Fruit a flat 

 samara, winged all around or only at the apex. 



1. Fraxinus Americana, L. WHITE ASH. A tall tree. Leaflets 5-9, mostly 7, 

 petioled, commonly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, entire or denticulate, dark green above 

 and paler or sometimes pubescent beneath. Flowers dioecious, rarely monoecious. 

 Fruit nearly cylindrical, about half as long as the wing, which springs from its 

 summit. In rich woods. 



2. Fraxinus quadrangulata, Michx. (L., quadrus, square ; angulatus, angled.) 

 BLUE ASH. A large tree, with angular twigs and 7-11 chiefly lanceolate leaflets, 

 which are short-stalked, green on both sides, and denticulate or finely serrate. 

 Flowers dioecious. Fruit narrowly oblong, winged on the sides as well as apex ; 

 wing often notched. In woods. 



ASCLEPIADACE^aL. MILKWEED FAMILY. 



Perennial herbs or shrubs, usually exuding latex or milk when 

 wounded. Flowers perfect and mostly in umbels. Ovary of 2 carpels, 

 which are united only at the summit with a fleshy, stigmatic disk. 



