RHAMNACE&. 



213 



lary, clustered or solitary, often dioecious or polygamous. Calyx- 

 tube free from the ovary ;. limb 4-6 cleft. Corolla regular, 4-6- 

 parted. Stamens as many as the segments of the corolla, alter- 

 nate with them, inserted on its base. Anthers opening longitudi- 

 nally. Ovary 2-celled, with i ovule in each cell. Stigmas 2-6. 

 Fruit drupaceous, with 2-6 stones. 



Ilex. Calyx 4-5-toothed. Corolla 4-5 parted, somewhat rotate. 

 Stamens 4-5. Stigmas 4-5, united or distinct. Berry 4 5-seeded. 



1. I. OPACA (American Holly). Leaves evergreen, oval, flat, tapering at 

 both ends, coriaceous, smooth and shining, armed with strong, spiny teeth 

 un the margins ; flowers small, greenish white, in loose clusters, which 

 are axillary, or situated at the base of the young branches ; calyx-teeth acute ; 

 berry ovate, red when ripe. A tree. June. 



2. I. VERTICILLATUS (Black Alder). Leaves deciduous, oval, or wedge- 

 lanceolate, serrate ; flowers white, axillary, on very short peduncles ; fertile 

 ones closely aggregated ; sterile ones somewhat umbelled ; pedicels i-flow- 

 ered ; berries roundish, scarlet, persistent through the winter. In swamps, 

 4-8 feet high. June, v 



Order XXIII. RHAMNACE^:. 



Shrubs, or trees, often with spinose branches. Leaves simple. 

 Flowers small. Sepals 4-5, united at base. Petals 4-5, inserted 

 in the throat of the calyx. Stamens 4-5, opposite the petals. 

 Ovary of 2-4 united carpels, 2-4-celled, usually more or less free 

 from the calyx, sometimes immersed in the fleshy disk surround- 

 ing it. Fruit, a berry, or a capsule with dry carpels. 



( Fruit berry-like Rhamnus. 

 RHAMNACE.E. -j 



( Fruit a hard pod Ceanothus. 



1. Rhamnus. Calyx urceolate, 4~5-cleft. Petals 4-5, perigynous. 

 Ovary free from the calyx, 2-4-celled. Styles, 2-4. Fruit drupa- 

 ceous, it 



R. CATHARTICUS (Buckthorn). Leaves ovate, doubly serrate, acute, 

 strongly veined, nearly smooth, alternate, in fascicles at the ends of the 

 branches ; flowers polygamous, in fascicles, mostly tetrandrous ; petals en- 

 tire ; fruit black, globose, nauseous, and cathartic. June. 



2. Ceanothus. Shrubs. Flowers in umbels. Petals 5, hood- 

 shaped. Ovary 3-celled, becoming a hard, 3-seeded pod. 



C. AMERICANUS (Jersey Tea). Young branches pubescent ; leaves ovate, 

 serrate, white-downy beneath, flowers small, white, numerous, in dense, axil- 

 lary, thyrsoid panicles. A small shrub, with a profusion of white flowers, 

 growing in woods, preferring a rather dry soil. Stem 2-3 feet high. June. 



