ELJEAGNUS. CXV. EL^IAGNACEiE. 481 



2. DAPHNE. 



For the nymph Daphne, who, i* is said, was changed into a laurel which this resembles. 



Calyx 4-cleft, inarescent, limb spreading ; stamens 8, included in 

 calyx tube; sty. 1 ; drupe 1 -seeded. Mostly evergreen shrubs, of much 

 beauty and fragrance. Lvs. generally from the terminal buds, fls. from 

 the lateral. None are American. 



1. D. MEZEREUM. Lvs. deciduous, lanceolate, in terminal tufts, entire, ses- 

 sile ; fls. sessile, about three from each lateral bud ; col. hypocrateriform, seg- 

 ments ovate, spreading ; sta. inserted in 2 rows near the top of the tube ; fil. 

 very short ; stig. sessile. A beautiful, early-flowering, European shrub. The 

 whole plant, especially the bark, is very acrid. Flowers pink-colored in one 

 variety, white in another, clothing nearly the whole plant in March. Height 



2. D. LAUREOLA. Spurge Laurel. Lvs. evergreen, lanceolate, glabrous, 

 acute, entire, subsessile; fls. 5 together in each axillary raceme. -A taller 

 shrub than the preceding, from Europe. Stem 4 6f high, with ample and 

 beautiful foliage. Flowers fragrant, greenish-yellow. Mar., Apr. ( 



3. D. COLLINA. Lvs. evergreen, oblanceolate, obtuse, tapering to a short pe- 

 tiole, very smooth above, villous beneath ; fls. fasciculate, terminal. Apr. Jn. f 



ORDER CXV. EL^EAGNACE^E. OLEASTERS. 



Trees and shrubs usually covered with a leprous scurf. Lvs. alternate or opposite, entire. Slip. 0. 

 Fis. axillary, dioecious, rarely perfect. 



Sterile fl. Cal. 4 -parted. Sta. 3, 4 or 8, sessile. Anth. 2-celled. 

 Fertile fl. Cal. Free, tubular, persistent, limb entire or 2 4-toothed. 

 Ova. simple, 1-celled. Ovule solitary, stipitate. Stig. simple, subulate, glandular. 

 Fr-Achenium crustaceous, enclosed within the calyx, which becomes succulent and baccate. 

 Sds. ascending. Embryo straight, in thin, fleshy albumen. 

 Genera 4, species 30, thinly dispersed throughout the whole northern hemisphere. 



Genera. 



J8. Shepherdia. 1 

 Stamens ( 4. Elceagnus. 2 



1. SHEPHERDIA. Nutt. 



In honor of John Shepherd, curator of the botanic garden of Liverpool. 



Flowers 9 cf . cT Calyx 4-cleft ; sta. 8, alternating with 8 glands. 

 9 Calyx tube closely investing the ovary, but not adhering to it, 

 limb 4-lobed ; sty. 1 ; stig. oblique ; berry globose, composed of the 

 fleshy calyx. North American shrubs, with spinescent branches, and 

 opposite, deciduous leaves. Fls. aggregated. 



1. S. CANADENSIS. Nutt. (Hippophce. WiUd.} 



Lvs. elliptic^tyate, nearly smooth above, clothed beneath with stellate 

 hairs and ferruginous, deciduous scales. A shrub 6 8f high, found in Vt, 

 N. Y. and W. to Wis., Lapham! by streams and on river banks. Leaves ob- 

 tuse at each end, the upper surface green, with few, scattered, stellate hairs, 

 lower surface white, with rust-colored spots, densely tomentose, margin entire ; 

 petioles 2 4" long, lamina 1 2' by \.'r Flowers minute, in small, lateral, 

 nearly sessile clusters. Berries oval, scaly, consisting of the fleshy calyx en- 

 closing the achenia in its tube, sweetish to the taste. Jl. A curious and orna- 

 mental shrub. 



2. S. ARGENTEA. Nutt. (Hippophse. PA.) Lvs. oblong-ovate, obtuse, both 

 surfaces smooth and equally covered with silvery scales. A small tree, 12 18f 

 high, with thorny branches. Leaves 1 2' by 43". P.etioles }' long, margin 

 entire, the surface of a light, silvery hue, sprinkled with rust-colored spots. 

 Fruit the size of a currant, scarlet, well-flavored, f 



2. EL^AGNU**. 



Gr. t\aia, the oiive ; the trees having a resemblance to the olive. 



Calyx 4-cleft, campanulate, colored on the inner side ; sta. 4, alter 



