Celastrus. CELASTRACEiE. 141 



panicles, 1 - 2 inches long. Flowers only 2-3 lines in diameter. Segments of the caiyx 

 oblong. Petals ovate-oblong, obtuse. Capsule about one-third of an inch in diameter, of an 

 orange color when mature ; the valves widely opening in dehiscence, each marked with a 

 central ridge or imperfect dissepiment on the inside. Seeds elliptical-oblong, reddish brown, 

 coated with a thick bright orange or scarlet arillus. Albumen oily. 



Borders of woods, banks of rivers, and along fences ; common. Fl. Early in June. Fr. 

 September. — The plant is said to be narcotic and stimulating. It is sometimes employed as 

 a domestic medicine in the Western States. 



3. EUONYMUS. Tourn. inst. t. 388 ; Endl. gen. 5676. spindle-tree. 



[ "Named from Euonyvie, mother to the Furies j in aUusion to the injurious effects produced by the fruit of this plant." 



Hooker.] 



Sepals 4-5, united at the base, spreading. Petals 4-5. Stamens inserted on the upper 

 surface of the broad flat fleshy disk : filaments short : anthers with a broad connectivum at 

 the back ; the cells opening transversely or longitudinally. Ovary half immersed in the 

 disk ; the cells as many as the petals, each with 2-3 ovules. Style short and thick : 

 stigma obtuse or lobed. Capsule 4 - 5-Iobed, 4 - 5-celled, loculicidal. Seeds 1 - 2 in 

 each cell, usually enclosed in a fleshy or pulpy, red or purple arillus. Embryo with broad 

 foljaceous cotyledons : albumen fleshy and oily. — Shrubs erect, trailing, or climbing by 

 rootlets. Leaves opposite, serrate. Stipules mostly wanting. Peduncles axillary, cy- 

 mosely ievr- or one-flowered. 



1. EuoNYMUs ATROPURPUREus, Jocq. Buming-hush. Indian Arroto. 



Branches smooth.; leaves oval or elliptical-oblong, acuminate, mostly acute at the base, 

 finely serrate, on distinct petioles, puberulent underneath ; peduncles divaricately cymose' 

 several-flowered ; parts of the flower usually in fours ; petals roundish-obovate ; capsules 

 smooth, deeply lobed.— "/ac^. hort. Vind. 2. t. 120;" Willd. sp. \. p. U32; Miclix. fl. 1. 

 p. 155 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 293 ; DC. prodr. 2. p. 4 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 261 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest 

 p. 149; Tmr. 4- Gr. 1. p. 258. 



A shrub 6 - 10 - 12 feet high ; the branches somewhat quadrangular and straight. Leaves 

 3-4 inches long, thin, conspicuously acuminate ; the petiole half an inch or more in length. 

 Peduncles 1 - 2 inches long, 5 - 7-flowered ; the flowers of a dark purple color. Capsule 

 crimson when mature. Seeds elliptical, whitish, nearly enclosed in the bright red, succulent 

 arillus. 



Moist woods and along rivers, in the western part of the State. Fl. June. Fr. October. 

 From this shrub is prepared the " Wa-a-hoo," a quack medicine of some reputation {Dr. 

 Knieskern). 



