LUCKTIIOKN FAMILY. 



85 



ORDER XX. RHAMNA'CB^. (BUCKTHORN FAMILY.) 



Shrubs or small frees having simple mostly alternate leaves with stipules minute or obsolete, 

 and small, regular, sometimes apetalous flowers. Stamens 4-5, perigynous, as many as 

 the valvate sepals, alternate with them and opposite the hooded or concave petals. Sta- 

 mens and petals inserted on the edge of & fleshy disk which lines the tube of the calyx 

 and sometimes coheres with the lower part of the 2 - 5-celled ovary. Stigmas 2-5. Fruit a 

 drupe or ood with 1-seeded cells ; seeds not arilled, embryo large, in a sparing fleshy albu- 

 men. 



1. KHAM'NUS, Tournef. BUCKTHORN. 



[An ancient Greek name, alluding to its numerous brauchlets.] 



Calyx 4 - 5-cleft, the bell-shaped tube lined with the thin disk. Petals 

 4-5, small, notched at the end, short-clawed, wrapped round the short 

 stamens or sometimes wanting. Ovary free, 2 4-celled. Fruit a berry- 



FIG. 64. A palmately compound leaf of Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis qulnquefolial. 

 An enlarged flower. 



65. 



