Celastrus. pentandeia monogynia. 389 



4. C. mulliflora, R. 



Shrubby, scaudent, unarmed. Leaves alternate, oblong-, acumi- 

 nate, senate. Panicles terminal. Stamens alternate, with an equal 

 number of reniform nectarial glands. 



A native of Nipal, from thence Dr. Buchanan sent the seedi to 

 the botanic garden at Calcutta, in 1802. In July 1808, the plants 

 therefrom blossomed lor the lirst lime, and ripened their seed seven 

 montiis afterwards. 



Trunk short, about as thick as a man's aim. Bark brown, soft 

 and spongy. Branches numerous, spreading much, and having 

 their extremities often twining, but the scaudent habit prevails most. 

 Leaves alternate, short-petioled, drooping, oblong, acuminate, ser- 

 rate, smooth on both sides ; about six inches long, and from two 

 to three broad. — Stipules minute, soon withering and drooping. 

 — Panicles terminal, ovate-oblong, composed of many, simple, di- 

 verging, shun, smooth racemes. — Flowers numerous, small, pale- 

 gretuish while. — Bractes very sniail, caducous. — Calyx obscurely 

 Jive-toothed. — Petals obiong, inserted on the calyx, alternate with 

 the stamens, soon alter expansion recuived. — Filaments shorter than 

 the petals, alternate, with as many semilunar nectarial glands. — Germ 

 superior, ovule, three-celled, with two ovula in each, attached to the 

 bottom of the cells. Style about as long as the stamens. Stigma 

 of three emarginate lobes. — Capsule roundish, somewhat three-lobed, 

 three-celled, three-valved, and generally with a single seed in each 

 cell. — Seeds obovate, eutire.y covered by a thin, pulpy, scarlet aril. 

 Integuments (exclusive of the aril), single, tender, white and smooth. 

 Persiperm of a soft cartilaginous texture. — Embryo erect. Cotyle- 

 dons two, round-cordate, and so large as to divide the perisperm. 

 liadicle inferior, pointing obliquely to the umbilicus. 



Obs. by N. IV. 



The name being pre-occupied by an erect, armed species which La- 

 marck describes as being a native of Africa, it must be altered. I 

 suggest dependent, being expressive of its pendulous leaves. The only 



