124 CELASTEACE^. 



cent. Boot dark red. Leaves 2 to 3 inclies long, ovate or oblong-ovate, 

 obtuse or slightly acuminate, 3-ribbed, serrate, pubescent beneath ; some- 

 times slightly cordate at the base. Flowers in axillary clusters, appearing 

 in Juh'. 



Habitat. — Common in dry woodlands from Canada to Florida and west- 

 ward. 



JPai'ts Used. — The leaves and root — not official. 



Constituents. — Both the leaves and root are astringent and contain a 

 considerable jiercentage of tannin. 



Preparations. — None are official. There are commercial fluid extracts 

 fairly rej^resenting the j)lant ; the decoction is most commonly used. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The leaves were used during the Revolu- 

 tion and also to some extent during the late Civil War as a substitute for 

 tea, and both leaves and root have been employed internally and toi^ically 

 as astringents. 



CELASTRACEyE. 



Character of the Order. — Shrubs or small trees, with alternate, rarely 

 opposite, simjDle leaves. Flowers in small axillary cymes, small, green, 

 white, or purple ; sepals and petals 4 or 5, imbricate in the bud ; stamens 

 4 or 5, alternate with the petals, inserted on a large disk which surrounds 

 and encloses the ovary. Fruit 2- to-5 celled, capsular or drupaceous ; seeds 

 arilled. 



An order comprising thirty-five genera. Represented in North Amer- 

 ica by seven — two only, Celastrus and Euonymus, comprising medicinal 

 species. 



CELASTRUS. —Staff Tree. 



Celastrus scandens Linne. — Woody Bittersweet. 



Description. — Calyx turbinate, 5-cleft. Corolla : petals 5, ovate or ob- 

 long, sessile. Stamens inserted into the margin of the fleshy disk. Ovary 

 surrounded by the disk, 3-celled ; styles 3, united. Fruit a globular cap- 

 sule, orange-colored, 3-celled, 3-valved, the valves at maturity opening and 

 folding backward, exposing the seeds enclosed in a fleshy, crimson aril. 



A twining shrub, often climbing trees to the height of twenty or thirty 

 feet. Leaves ovate-oblong, finely serrate, pointed. Flowers polygamo- 

 dioecious, inconspicuous, appearing in June. Fruit very ornamental, and 

 often gathered for household decoration. 



Habitat. — Borders of woods and streams and along old fences, from 

 Canada to Carolina and westward. 



Part Used. — The bark — not official. 



Constituents. — The bark has a sweetish, nauseous taste. Its chemical 

 constituents are unknown. 



