CELASTRACE^E. (STAFF-TREE FAMILY.) 75 



into three valveless nutlets. Embryo in the axis of thin albumen. Tropical, 

 chiefly climbing shrubs, with alternate stipulate toothed leaves, and perfect or 

 polygamous flowers in terminal spiked clusters. 



1. G. Domingensis, L. Branches pubescent; leaves oblong-ovate, ta- 

 pering into an obtuse point, serrate, petioled ; spikes elongated, bearing a tendril 

 at the base ; drupe globose, 3-winged. South Florida. Leaves 2' - 4' long. 

 Flowers minute, yellow. Lobes of the disk emarginate. 



ORDER 40. CEL.ASTRACEJS. (STAFF-TREE FAMILY.) 



Shrubs, with simple stipulate leaves, and small regular flowers. 

 Sepals and petals 4-5, imbricated in the bud. Stamens 4-5, alternate 

 with the petals, and inserted with them on the disk which fills the bottom 

 of the calyx. Ovary free, 1 - 5-celled, with 1 - several erect ovules in 

 each cell. Styles united. Fruit capsular or drupaceous. Seeds often 

 arilled. Embryo in the axis of the albumen. Flowers perfect or 

 polygamous. 



Synopsis. 



* Fruit a 1 - 2-seeded drupe. 



1. MYGINDA. Ovary 4-celled. Stigmas 4. Drupe 1-seeded. Leaves opposite. Flowers 



perfect. 



2. SCII^EFFERIA. Ovary 2-celled. Stigmas 2. Drupe 2-seeded. Leaves alternate. Flowers 



dioecious. 



* * Fruit a 3 - 6-valved capsule : seeds arilled. 



3. EUONYMUS. Flowers perfect, in axillary cymes. Calyx flat. Leaves opposite. 



4. CELASTRUS. Flowers polygamous, in terminal racemes. Calyx cup-shaped. Capsule 



globose. Leaves alternate. 



5. MAYTENUS. Flowers axillary. Calyx flat. Capsule 3-angled. Leaves alternate. 



1. MYGINDA, Jacq. 



Flowers perfect. Sepals 4, united below. Petals 4, roundish. Stamens 4. 

 Ovary 4-celled, with a solitary anatropous ovule in each cell. Style short, 4-cleft. 

 Drupe 1 -celled, 1-seeded. Seed erect. Embryo in thin albumen. Cotyledons 

 flat. Eadicle inferior. Tropical shrubs, with small opposite coriaceous leaves, 

 and minute white or reddish flowers on axillary forking peduncles. 



l.M. Rhacoma, Swartz. Branches slender, pubescent, angled ; leaves ob- 

 long, obtuse, crenate, nearly sessile, paler and often discolored beneath ; pedun- 

 cles filiform, shorter than the leaves, cymosely 2 - 4-flowered ; calyx-lobes round, 

 pubescent ; petals oval, concave, ciliate ; stigmas spreading ; drupe obovate. 

 South Florida. A small shrub. Leaves '- 1' long, glabrous. 



2. M. ilicifolia, Lam. Branches terete^ pubescent; leaves smooth, round- 

 ovate, spiny-toothed, short-petioled ; peduncles shorter than the leaves, umbel- 

 lately 3 - 4-flowered ; calyx 4-toothed ; petals rounded ; drupe obovate, pointed 

 with the persistent style. South Florida. A small shrub. Leaves '-f 

 long. 



