190 KEY AND FLORA 



into a short stalk at the base, finely serrate, smooth above, velvety- 

 downy beneath. Calyx of the pistillate flowers persistent. Key Ih- 

 2 in. long, the wing somew^hat extended along the sides, oblanceolate 

 or spatulate, often notched. Swamps and moist soil.* 



3. F. caroliniana Mill. Water Ash. A small tree ; wood soft, 

 light, and weak; twigs smooth or downy. Leaflets 5-7, ovate or ellip- 

 tical, acute at the apex, acute or obtuse at the base, entire or slightly 

 serrate, smooth or slightly downy, stalked. Flowers dioecious. Calyx 

 persistent. Key often 3-angled or 3-winged, wings running nearly to 

 the base, oblong or oval, pinnately veined. Li swamps and wet soil.* 



4. F. quadrangulata Michx. Blue Ash. A large tree, with wood 

 heavy, but not as tough as No. 1 ; the most vigorous twigs usually 

 square. Leaflets 7-9, with short stalks, somewhat ovate or lanceolate, 

 acute, sharply serrate. Fruit winged to the base, of nearly the same 

 width throughout, narrowly oblong. Rich woods, especially W. 



II. FORSYTHIA Vahl. 



Shrubs. Leaves opposite or in threes, appearing later than 

 the flowers, serrate. Calyx very short, deciduous. Corolla yel- 

 low, bell-shaped, its lobes long and slender. Stamens inserted 

 on the base of the corolla tube. Pod 2-celled, many-seeded. 



1. F. viridissima Lindl, A hardy shrub, with branches erect or 

 nearly so. Leaves all simple, lance-oblong. Calyx lobes half as long as 

 the tube of the corolla. Lobes of the corolla spreading, narrow-oblong. 

 Style equal in length to the tube of the corolla. Cultivated from Asia. 



2. F. suspensa Vahl. A hardy shrub, with drooping branches. 

 Leaves broadly ovate, often some of them with 3 leaflets, the lateral 

 leaflets small. Lobes of the corolla longer, broader, and more spread- 

 ing than in No. 1. Style shorter than the tube of the corolla. Culti- 

 vated from Asia. Less common than No. 1 ; often trained over porches 

 and arbors. 



III. SYRINGA L. 



Tall shrubs, forking frequently, from the failure of the ter- 

 minal buds on most branches. Leaves simple, entire. Flowers 

 in close, compound panicles. Calyx 4-toothed. Corolla salver- 

 shaped, the tube long, the limb 4-lobed. Pod dry, flattened at 

 right angles to the partition, 4-seeded. 



1. S. vulgaris L. Common Lilac. A strong-growing, hardy bush. 

 Leaves ovate, somewhat heart-shaped. Flowers sweet-scented, in very 

 close, large clusters, lilac or white. Corolla lobes concave. Very com- 

 monly cultivated from eastern Europe. 



