258 CHINESE ECONOMIC TREES 



This species has running roots, reproducing freely by suckers, and 

 has been successfully used to hold shifting sand. It grows in any kind 

 of soil. The pistillate plant when fruiting is very attractive. The fruits 

 are slightly poisonous. 



NYSSACEAE 



Trees. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or toothed. Flowers 

 unisexual or polygamous, aggregated in heads or clusters, with or with- 

 out accompanying bracts; calyx 5 lobed or wanting; petals 5 or wanting; 

 stamens 5-10, or numerous, all alike or in 2 series and unequal; disk 

 present; ovary 1 or 2 celled, or 6-10 celled; usually 1 ovule in each cell; 

 style elongated, curved, or short and thickened, or bifid. Fruit samaroid, 

 or a large or small drupe. 



A family represented by 3 genera in China, all chiefly of ornamental 

 value. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Fruit samara-like, aggregated in a capitate head. Camptotheca. 



II. Fruit drupaceous. 



A. Drupes small, 1-2 celled, 1 seeded; ovary 1-2 celled; perianth 

 present ; the staminate and pistillate flowers in distinct clusters 

 with small deciduous bracts Nyssa. 



B. Drupes large with a 3-5 celled stone; ovary 6-10 celled; 

 perianth wanting; inflorescence composed of a single pistillate 

 flower surrounded by numerous staminate flowers or of sta- 

 minate flowers only, accompanied by 2 or 3 large white bracts 

 ■ Davidia. 



CAMPTOTHECA 



Trees. Leaves alternate, entire, pinnately veined, elliptic-ovate to 

 oblong, acuminate, stalked. Flowers sessile in capitate heads, solitary 

 or in axillary or terminal panicles, unisexual or perfect; calyx cup- 

 shaped, slightly 5 toothed; petals 5, valvate (in aestivation); stamens 

 10, white, unequal, in 2 series, on slender filaments; disk epigynous, cup- 

 shaped; ovary oblong, depressed at the apex, 1 celled, 1 ovuled; style 



