292 



THE RUE FAMILY. 



jnequally serrate, or crenate, smooth and emitting when crushed a peculiar scent. 

 Flotvers : small, greenish white, growing in ternunal, compound cymes. Sepals: 

 small, four to live. Petals: four to hve. Staniinate Jlowers : with four or five 

 stamens. Carpels : ovoid, one-seeded, opening in halves and releasing the black, 

 shiny seeds, which hang outside after maturity. 



Sometime after the leaves unfold innumerable little greenish yellow flowers 

 enliven the look of this small tree. They are not at all showy, nor hand- 

 some, but then the greater number of trees are rather modest in the matter 

 of their blossoms. Once, however, let an interest be kindled in tree 

 blossoms and the eyes are alert to seek them even when encouraged by a 

 few warm days in February. A curious feature also to be noticed about 

 this particular one is its sharp prickles which are raised by pads, or cushions 

 of cork. It is not common and mostly grows along streams where its ash- 

 like, brilliant foliage makes a busy stirring in the breeze. That it is called 

 toothache-tree is because a piece of its bark when put in the mouth is said to 

 give much relief to this disorder. Negroes, especially, pin their faith to its 

 efficacy. 



Belonging to the rue family also, although under another genus, we find 

 the indigenous hop-tree, Ptela trifoliata, which locally passes as well under 

 the names of shrubby trefoil, hop-tree and wafer ash. From Florida, it 

 grows northward, favouring rocky banks and is infinitely more noticeable 

 when hung with its samaras, broadly winged all around, than when its cymes 

 of delicate greenish flowers are in blow. This fruit which is intensely bitter 

 has been occasionally used as a substitute for hops. 



Although not the function of this book to include exotic plants, it may not 

 be amiss to here mention that orange and lemon trees are members of this 

 same family. 



THE AILANTHUS FAMILY. 



SiniariibacecE, 

 QUASSIA. PARADISE TREE. 



Sijuaruba glaiica. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Ailanthus. Round-headed. 20-^0 feet. Southern Floj-ida. April. 



Bark: appressed, scaly, light reddish brown. Juice: bitter and resinous. 

 Leaves: alternate ; comjiound ; aljiuj^tly ])innate with from eight to sixteen opposite, 

 or alternate leaflets, which are oval or oblong, rounded at the apex and tapering at 

 the base; entire, 'the margins slightly revolute; thick; paler below; smooth. 

 Flowers: small; pale yellow; dia;cious ; regular; growing in open lateral and 

 terminal panicles. /'<?/a/j- ; five; spreading. Stigmas : fivt. Dricpe ; o\3.\. 



