90 Introduction to Botany. 



V. DODECATHEON. American Cowslip. 



(Gr., dodeka^ twelve; theoi, gods. Pliny's name for the primrose, supposed to be under the 

 care of the gods.) 



Glabrous perennial herbs, with entire or merely repand basal leaves, 

 and flowers in involucrate umbel terminating a scape. Calyx 5-parted 

 with lobes at first reflexed. Corolla 5-parted with reflexed lobes, the 

 tube short and thickened at the throat. Stamens 5, monadelphous, 

 connivent into a cone, inserted on the throat of the corolla. Ovary 

 ovoid or nearly globose, containing numerous ovules. 



I. Dodecatheon M^adia, L. American Cowslip or Shooting Star. Peren- 

 nial, with short rootstock and fibrous roots. Leaves mostly oblanceolate, narrow- 

 ing into a petiole, entire or sometimes toothed. Scape 8 inches to 2 feet high. 

 Corolla pink, purple, or white. Often cultivated. Rich woods and prairies. 



EBENACE.a;. Ebony Family. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate, exstipulate, entire leaves and polyga- 

 mous, regular flowers. Calyx 3-7-lobed, free from the 3-12-celled 

 ovary. Corolla gamopetalous, 3-7-lobed. Stamens inserted on the 

 tube of the corolla, and 2 to 4 times as many as its lobes. Fruit a 

 berry containing i or more seeds, with bony testa. 



I. DIOSPYROS. Date Plum or Persimmon. 



(Gr., dios, of Jove; pyros, wheat,) 



Trees or shrubs, with simple leaves and lateral, solitary, or clustered, 

 diceciously polygamous flowers. Corolla urn-shaped, 4-6-lobed. Calyx 

 4-6-lobed. Stamens 8-20 in the sterile flowers, fewer and imperfect, or 

 even wanting, in the pistillate flowers. Ovary globose or ovoid ; styles 

 2-6. Berry large and pulpy, containing 4-12 hard and flat seeds. 



1. Diospyros Virgiuiana, I^. Common Persimmon. Tree, \sith hard and 

 dark bark. Leaves thickish, ovate-oblong to oval, nearly or quite glabrous. Calyx 

 4-parted. Corolla mostly 4-lobed, greenish yellow, thickish, campanulate, or some- 

 what urn-shaped ; sterile flowers smaller than the fertile. Fruit very astringent when 

 green, becoming reddish yellow, and sweetening after exposure to frost. Woods 

 and old fields. 



OLEACEjE. Olive Family. 



Trees or shrubs, with mostlv opposite, pinnate, or simple exstipulate 

 leaves, and flowers in panicles, cymes, or fascicles. Calyx 4-cleft or 

 obsolete ; corolla 4-cleft, or 4-petalous, or sometimes wanting. Stamens 



