ABALIACEAE 263 



Among all the Chinese trees, there is none more interesting or 

 distinctive than the Davidia. It is a remarkably beautiful tree in full 

 bloom, with the large creamy-white bracts fluttering against the back- 

 ground of the bright green leaves. It is well worthy of general cultiva- 

 tion in gardens in the temperate parts of the country. 



ARALIACEAE 



Trees, shrubs or herbs, erect or climbing, sometimes spiny. Leaves 

 alternate, simple, or pinnately or digitately compound, or decompound. 

 Flowers regular, umbellate or panicled, perfect or unisexual, small and 

 epigynous. Parts of the flowers usually in 5's. Sepals minute, sometimes 

 wanting; petals rarely more than 5; stamens alternate with, rarely 2 or 3 

 times as many as, the petals. Ovary inferior, 2-5 celled ; 1 ovule in each 

 cell. Styles as many as the cells. Fruit a dry or fleshy berry with the 

 calyx persistent at the apex. 



About 51 genera containing 400 species, chiefly tropical. A few 

 genera extend into the temperate regions of N. America and E. Asia. 



KEY TO GENERA 



I. Petals imbricate ; leaves pinnate to decompound Aralia. 



II. Petals valvate ; leaves simple, palmately lobed, or digitately compound 

 Acanthopanax. 



ARALIA 



Trees, shrubs or herbs, often with prickly stems, the prickles being 

 modified hairs. Leaves deciduous, alternate; pinnately compound or 

 decompound; leaflets serrulate; stipules on the expanded clasping base 

 of the petiole. Flowers with imbricate petals, small, whitish, perfect or 

 polygamous, usually in umbellate panicles. Petals and stamens 5. Ovary 

 2-5 celled, adnate to the calyx tube. Styles 2-5, free or, slightly connate 

 at the base. Fruit a berry-like fleshy drupe more or less angled, with 2-5 

 hard compressed stones. 



About 30 species in Asia and N. America. Valuable for ornamental 

 planting. Easily propagated by seeds, suckers and root cuttings. 



