186 CELASTRACEiE. 



Fruit a globular and orange-colored two -four- (usually 

 three-) celled capsule, loculicidally dehiscent by as many 

 valves ; the valves coriaceous, bearing the thin dissepiments 

 on their middle. Seeds two or solitary in each cell, erect, 

 inclosed in a fleshy scarlet arillus, which is pervious only at 

 the apex ; the chartaceous testa marked by a slender raphe. 

 EarBRYO straight in the axis of copious fleshy albumen, 

 nearly of its length and breadth : cotyledons foliaceous, 

 oval, plane, parallel with the raphe : radicle short, inferior. 



Shrubs climbing, sometimes twining, unarmed; with 

 alternate leaves, and rather small greenish-white flowers in 

 axillary or terminal racemes or panicles, which are drooping 

 in fruit. Stipules minute, setaceous, caducous. Pedicels 

 articulated above the middle, minutely bracteate. 



Etymology. An ancient Greek name, of uncertain meaning. 



Geographical Distribution. Tliis genus, as now restricted, consists 

 of our C. scandens, which is common throughout the United States proper, 

 apparently of one or more Mexican species, of one East Indian, and perhaps 

 of an African species. C. Europseus, Boiss., is doubtless to be excluded. 



Properties. Our Waxwork is sometimes planted as an ornamental 

 climber, on account of the fruit, which is showy in autumn, when the 

 orange-colored pods burst, so as to display the pulpy scarlet arillus that 

 incloses the seeds. These are said to possess narcotic and stimulating prop- 

 erties. The seeds of the East Indian C. paniculata {Malhingnee of the na- 

 tives) yield by destructive distillation a peculiar empyreumatic oil, of a 

 bitter and acrid taste, which is highly valued by the native practitioners. 



PLATE 170. Celastrus scandens, Linn. ; — branch of the staminate plant. 



1. Diagram of the flower. 



2. A staminate flower, with the articulated pedicel, magnified. 



3. A vertical section of the same. 



4. A magnified stamen, outside view ; 5. an inside view. 



6. A pistillate flower, magnified. 



7. Magnified pistil, with the disk and the base of the calyx. 



8. Vertical section of the same, showing the ovules, &c. 



9. An ovule, and the forming arillus, more magnified. 



10. Dehiscent fruits, of the natural size. 



11. A seed in its pulpy arillus, magnified. 



12. Vertical section of the same, through the raphe and cotyledons. 



13. A seed extracted from the arillus, magnified. 14. Embryo magnified. 



