FLACOTJRTIACEAE 253 



POLIOTHYRSIS 



Deciduous trees. Leaves alternate, with 3 main veins from the base, 

 ovate, pointed, shallowly toothed. Flowers monoecious, unisexual by- 

 abortion, apetalous, in large, erect panicles; calyx with 5 ovate-lanceolate 

 lobes; stamens 20-25; ovary ovoid, tomentose, 1 celled, many ovuled; 

 style 3; stigma bifid. Fruit an ellipsoid capsule, splitting into 3 valves. 

 Seeds small, winged. 



A monotypic genus confined to Western China. Distinguished from 

 Idesia, which it resembles in foliage and habit, by the capsular fruit. 

 The fruit of Idesia is a dark red berry. The base of the leaf or apex of 

 the petiole usually bears minute glands on the upper surface. 



Poliothyrsis sinensis Oliver. 



Tree to 13 m. tall with gray bark. Leaves more or less ovate, round- 

 ed or cordate at base, 6 or 8 to 15 cm. long, 5 or 6 to 9 or 10 cm. wide, at 

 first pubescent beneath ; petiole slender, 3-4 cm. long. Flowers greenish 

 white, changing to yellow, about 8 mm. across. Capsule 1-3 cm. long, 

 6-10 mm. wide, tapering to both ends. Seeds winged. 



Hupeh and Szechuan. 



XYLOSMA 



Evergreen trees or shrubs, often spinescent. Leaves alternate, dentate 

 or crenate, pinnately veined, without stipules. Flowers small, dioecious, 

 rarely perfect, apetalous, in axillary racemes ; sepals 4-5, small, imbricate, 

 slightly connate at the base; stamens many, distinct; ovary superior, 

 surrounded by a glandular disk, 1 celled, with 2, (rarely 3-6) few ovuled 

 parietal placentae ; styles 2 or more. Fruit a globosei 2-3 seeded berry. 



About 45 species in the tropics. The wood of some species is aromatic, 

 a feature that is responsible for the latter part of the generic name. 



Xylosma racemosum (S. & Z.) Miquel. 

 (Hisingera racemosa Siebold & Zuccarini.) 



Shrub or tree sometimes to 20 or 25 m. tall, spiny or unarmed. 

 Branchlets glabrous or minutely pubescent. Leaves ovate, acuminate, 

 rounded at the base, serrate, 4-5 cm. long. Racemes to 2.5 cm. long. 

 Flowers yellow, fragrant, about 5 mm. across. Fruit black, 2-3 seeded, to 

 5 mm. in diameter. 



