APOCYNACE^E. (D/QGBANE FAMILY.) 337 



3. CHIONANTHUS, L. FRINGE-TREE. 



Calyx 4-parted, very small, persistent. Corolla of 4 long and linear petals, 

 which are barely united at base. Stamens 2 (rarely 3 or 4), on the very base 

 of the corolla, very short. Stigma notched. Drupe fleshy, globular, becoming 

 1 -celled, 1 -3-seeded. Low trees or shrubs, with deciduous and entire petioled 

 leaves, and delicate flowers in loose and drooping graceful panicles, from lat- 

 eral buds. (Name from x i( ^ y > snow, and HvQos, blossom, alluding to the light 

 and snow-white clusters of flowers.) 



1. C. Virginica, L. Leaves oval, oblong, or obovate-lanceolate ; flowers 

 on slender pedicels; petals 1' long, narrowly linear, acute, varying to 5 or 6 in 

 number ; drupe purple, with a bloom, ovoid (6 - 8" long). River banks, N. J. 

 and S. Penn. to Fla., Tex., and Mo. ; very ornamental in cultivation. June. 



4, LIGUSTRUM, Tourn. PRIVET. 



Calyx short-tubular, 4-toothed, deciduous. Stamens 2, on the tube of the 

 corolla, included. Berrv 2-celled, 1 - 2-seeded. Shrubs, with entire leaves 

 and small white flowers In terminal panicles. (The classical name.) 



L. VULGARE, L. (PRIVET, or PRIM.) Leaves very smooth ; berries black. 

 Used for low hedges, and naturalized eastward ; from Europe. 



ORDER 66. APOCYNACEJE. (DOGBANE FAMILY.) 



Plants almost all with milky acrid juice, entire (chiefly opposite) leaves 

 without stipules, regular 5-merous and 5- androus flowers ; the 5 lobes ojSthe 

 corolla convolute and twisted in the bud ; the filaments distinct, inserted on 

 the corolla, and the pollen granular,- calyx free from the two ovaries, 

 which (in our genera) are distinct (forming follicles), though their styles 

 or stigmas are united into one. Seeds amphitropous or anatropous, 

 with a large straight embryo in sparing albumen, often bearing a tuft of 

 down (comose). Chiefly a tropical family (of acrid-poisonous plants), 

 represented in gardens by the Oleander and Periwinkle. 



1. Amsonia. Seeds naked. Corolla-tube bearded inside. Anthers longer than the fila- 



ments. Leaves alternate. 



2. Trachelospermum. Seeds comose. Corolla funnel-form, not appendaged. Fila- 



ments slender. Calyx glandular inside. Leaves opposite. 



3. Apocynum. Seeds comose. Corolla bell-shaped, appendaged within. Filaments 



short, broad and flat. Calyx not glandular. Leaves opposite. 



1. AMSONIA, Walt. 



Calyx 5-parted, small. Corolla with a narrow funnel-form tube bearded 

 inside, especially at the throat; the limb divided into 5 long linear lobes. 

 Stamens 5, inserted on the tube, included ; anthers obtuse at both ends, longer 

 than the filaments. Ovaries 2 ; style 1 ; stigma rounded, surrounded with a 

 cup-like membrane. Pod (follicles) 2, long and slender, many-seeded. Seeds 

 cylindrical, abrupt at both ends, packed in one row, naked. Perennial herbs, 

 with alternate leaves, and pale blue flowers in terminal panicled cymes. (Said 

 to be named for a Mr. Charles Amson.) 



