124 CELASTRACE/E. 



cent. Root dark red. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, ovjite or oblong-ovate, 

 obtuse or sliji,lit]j acuminate, 3-ribbed, serrate, pubescent beneath ; ''ouie- 

 times slightly cordate at the base. Flowers in axillary clusters, ajipearing 

 in July. 



llabUat. — Common in dry woodlands fi*om Canada to Florida and west- 

 ward. 



Parh Uiicd. — The leaves and root — not official. 



Constifiii-iits. — Both the loaves and root are astringent and contain a 

 considerable percentage of tannin. 



Preparations; — None are officiiil. There are commercial fluid extracts 

 fairly representing the plant ; the decoction is most commonly used. 



Medical Prnpprt ii'.H and Usen. — The leaves were used during the Revolu- 

 tion and also to some extent during the late Civil AVar as a substitute for 

 tea, and both leaves and root have been employed internally and topically 

 as astringents. 



CELASTRACEiC. 



Character of the Order. — Shrubs or small trees, with alternate, rarely 

 opposite, simple leaves. Flowoi's in small axillary cymes, small, green, 

 white, or purple ; sepals and petals 4 or 5, imbricate in the bud ; stamens 

 ■i or 5, alternate with the petals, inserted on a large disk which surroxmds 

 and encloses the ovary. Fruit 2- to-5 celled, capsular or drupaceous ; seeds 

 arilled. f 



An order jomprising thirty-five genera. Represented in North Amer- 

 ica b}' seven — two only, Cel.istrus and Euonymus, comprising medicinal 

 species. 



CELASTRUS. -Staff Tree. 



Celastrus scandens Linnc. — Woody 'Jlilfrrsweef. 



Bei^cription. — C;ilyx turbinate, 5-cleft. Corolla : petals 5, ovate or ob- 

 long, sessile. Stamens inserted into the margin of the fleshy disk. Ovai'y 

 surrounded by the disk, 3-celled ; styles 3, united. Fruit a globular cap- 

 sule, orangc-coloi'ed, 3-celled, 3-valved, the valves at maturity opening and 

 folding backward, exposing the seeds enclosed in a fleshy, crimson aril. 



A twining shrub, often climbing trees to the height of twenty or thirty 

 |i feet. Leaves ovatc-obloug, finely serrate, pointed. Flowers polygamo- 



dicecious, inconsjiicuous, ai:)pearing in June. Fruit very ornamental, and 

 often gathered for household decoration. 



Ilalnlat. — Borders of Avoods and streams and along old fences, from 

 Canada to Carolina and w'estward. 



Part Used. — The bark — not official. 



Con.tlitnents. — The bark has a sweetish, nauseous taste. Its chemical 

 constituents are unknown. 



