344 



HENPEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



EBR 



The flowers are hermaphrodite, (perfect,) 

 or pistillate and staminate. The fruit is 

 a round or oval berry with albuminous 

 seeds. They are chiefly natives of the East 

 Indies, but are also found in tropical Africa, 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, in South 

 America, Brazil, Australia, Northern Asia, 

 and China. The trees yield a hard and 

 durable timber. The heart- wood of differ- 

 ent species of Diospyros is the Ebony of 

 commerce, of which there are many varie- 

 ties. The Keg-fig of Japan is the edible 

 fruit of Diospyros Kaki, and our common 

 Persimmon is the fruit of Diospyros Vir- 

 giniana. There are five recognized genera 

 and about 250 species. Diospyros, Eoyena, 

 Euclea, and Maba are examples. 



Ebracteate. Having no bracts. 



Eburneus. Of the color of ivory. 



Ecalcarate. Not having a spur. 



Ecaudate. Spikeless; without a stem. 



EcblaMesis. The production of buds with- 

 in flowers, in consequence of monstrous 

 development ; or on inflorescences. 



Echinate, Echinaled. Furnished with nu- 

 merous rigid hairs or straight prickles; 

 as the fruit of Costarica vesca, Amomum 

 subulatum, etc. 



Ecoslate. Not having a central or strongly 

 marked rib or costa. 



Eddoes. The tuberous stems of various ara- 

 ceous plants, as Colocasia esculenta, Gala- 

 dium bicolor, etc. 



Edentate. Not having teeth. 



Edentulus.Not toothed. 



Edged. When one color is surrounded by 

 a very narrow rim of another color. 



Efflorescent. The action of beginning to 

 flower. 



Effoliation. The removal of leaves. 



Effuse. Applied to inflorescence, and means 

 a kind of panicle with a very loose ar- 

 rangement 



ELL 

 Efulcrate. Said of buds from below which 



the customary leaf has fallen. 

 Egg-shaped. The same as ovate, which see. 

 Eglandulose. Not having glands. 

 Ehretiacece, (Ehretiads.) A natural order of 

 Dicotyledons, belonging to De Candolle's 

 sub-class Corolliflorce, and to Lindley's 

 Echial Alliance. The plants are closely 

 allied to the Borageworts. They are 

 trees, shrubs, or herbs. They are chiefly 

 tropical plants, though some occur in 

 the south of Europe and others in our 

 Southern States. The Heliotrope, a na- 

 tive of Peru, was introduced in 1740, 

 and is universally esteemed for its de- 

 lightful fragrance. There are fifteen 

 known genera and about 330 species. 

 Ehretia, Heliotropium, and Tournefortia 

 are examples of the order. 

 Ehretiads. The English term for Ehreti- 



acece. 



Elceagnacece, (Oleasters.) A natural order 

 of monochlamydeous Dicotyledons, be- 

 longing to Lindley's Amental Alliance of 

 diclinous Exogens. They are trees or 

 shrubs, chiefly natives of the northern 

 hemisphere. There are four known gen- 

 era and thirty species. Shepherdia, Eke- 

 agnus, and Hippophae are examples of the 

 order. 



Elaio. In Greek compounds this word 

 means olive color, a mixture of green and 

 brown. 



Elaturs. Cells containing a double spiral, 

 which occur in the capsules of Junger- 

 manniacece and Marchantiacece in com- 

 pany with the spores. 

 Elatus. Tall. 

 Eleidheros. In Greek compounds means 



distinct, separate. 



Ellipsoid, Ellipsoidal. A solid with an ellip- 

 tical figure; like an ellipsis, as in Nastur- 

 tium amphibium. 



