SUPPLEMENT. 
THE FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 
By Caarzes Lovis Poiuarp. 
CHAPTER XXIII.— Continued. 
Family Cyrillaceae. Cyrilla Family. This consists of two small 
trees, Cliftonia and Cyrilla, both natives of the southern United States, 
and a genus of tropical American shrubs, Costaea, with 3 species. The 
two first-named genera are probably both monotypic, although a second 
species of Cyrilla has been described. They are both highly ornamen- 
tal, having long racemes of white, holly-like flowers. The family is 
indeed very closely related to the Holly Family, but differs in the 
fruit, which is sometimes winged. 
Family Pentaphylacaceae. Pentaphylax Family. Contains the 
single genus Pentaphylax, with one species, an East Asiatic tree. 
Family Corynocarpaceae. Corynocarpus Family. Also mono- 
typic, containing the New Zealand Corynocarpus laevigatus. The lat- 
ter is a very handsome tree with deep green foliage and small white 
flowers in terminal clusters. The tree is said to be valued for its fruit, 
which resembles a plum in appearance and taste. The seeds are poi- 
sonous when raw, but after cooking, an edible farinaceous substance is 
extracted from them. 
Family Aquifoliaceae. Holly Family. Contains five genera and 
about 175 species, natives of both temperate and tropical regions. Ilex 
is the only important and byefar the largest genus, containing over 160 
species. This family is characterized by the usually dioecious flowers, 
which are regular in structure, having a 3-6-parted calyx, and corolla 
of 4-6, sometimes united petals (see Fig. 186). On the latter account 
the family has often been placed over among the gamopetalous plants, 
or those having the corolla in a single piece; but the joining is not very 
complete, appearing more like simple cohesion. The fruit is a small 
berry-like drupe, red, blue, or black in color, and familiar to us as the 
“holly berry ” of Christmas-tide. 
The English or European holly (Ilex Aquifolium) has more glossy 
deeper green foliage than our American holly (J. opaca), and hence is 
imported to a considerable extent for decorative purposes. There are 
