DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 177 



wheel-shaped, 4-parted, the lobes long and linear. Stamens 

 2-4, included, inserted on the base of the corolla. Style 

 short ; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a 1-seeded stone-fruit.* 



1. C. virginica, L. FRINGE-TREE. A small tree, with smooth, light 

 gray bark and spreading branches. Leaves oval to oblong, acute or 

 obtuse at each end, smooth or slightly downy. Panicles large and 

 loose, leafy-bracted, appearing with the leaves. Flowers on slender, 

 drooping pedicels. Petals 1 in. or more in length. Fruit ovoid, pur- 

 ple, J~f in. long. Along streams, usually on light soil.* 



V. LIGUSTRUM, Tourn. 



Shrnbs. Leaves simple, opposite, entire, deciduous or some- 

 times persistent. * Flowers in terminal panicles or similar 

 clusters, white, small. Calyx minutely 4-toothed or truncate. 

 Corolla funnel-form, 4-lobed. Stamens 2, short, inserted in the 

 tube of the corolla. Ovary free, 2-celled, 2 ovules in each 

 cell, style short. Fruit a 1-4-seeded, globose berry.* 



1. L. vulgare, L. PRIVET. A branching shrub, 4-10 ft. high; 

 branches long and slender. Leaves somewhat leathery, lanceolate to 

 obovate, short-petioled, tardily deciduous. Panicles dense, minutely 

 downy. Flowers in. wide, fragrant. Stamens included. Berries 

 black. Introduced from Europe and used largely for hedges.* 



79. GENTIAN ACE^. GENTIAN FAMILY. 



Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves entire, usually oppo- 

 site, sometimes alternate, without stipules. Flowers regular, 

 solitary or in cymes. Calyx free from the ovary, 4-8-toothed 

 or lobed. Corolla hypogynous, wheel-, bell-, or funnel-shaped, 

 4-8-lobed. Stamens 48, inserted on the corolla-tube ; fila- 

 ments thread-shaped; anthers facing inwards. Ovary 1-2- 

 celled ; ovules many, on 2 opposite placentas. Capsule 1-celled 

 or partially 2-celled, 2-valved, many-seeded. 



I. OBOLARIA, L. 



A low, smooth, purplish-green perennial. Flowers axillary 

 and terminal, Calyx of 2 distinct, spatulate, bract-like sepals. 



