CELASTRACE^. (staff-tree FAMILY.) 75 



into three valveless nutlets. Embi^o in the axis of thin albumen. — Tropical, 

 chiefly climbing shrubs, with alternate stipulate toothed leaves, and perfect or 

 polygamous flowers in terminal spiked clusters. 



1 ■ G. Domingensis, I.i- Branches pubescent ; leaves oblong-ovate, ta- 

 pering into an obtuse point, serrate, petioled ; spikes elongated, bearing a tendril 

 at the base; drupe globose. Swinged. — South Florida. — Leaves 2' -4' long 

 Flowers minute, yellow. Lobes of the disk emarginate. 



Order 40. CELASTRACE^. (Staff-tree Family.) 



Shrubs, with simple stipulate leaves, and small regular flowers. — 

 Sepals and petals 4 - 5, imbricated in the bud. Stamens 4 - 5, alternate 

 with the petals, and inserted with them on the disk which fills the bottom 

 of the calyx. Ovary free, 1 - 5-celled, with 1 - several erect o^^lles in 

 each cell. Styles united. Fruit capsular or drupaceous. Seeds often 

 arilled. Embryo in the axis of the albumen. — Flowers perfect or 

 polygamous. 



Synopsis. 



* Fruitftl- 2-8eeded drupe. 



1. MYGIND.\. Ovary 4-celled. Stigmas 4. Drupe l-seeded. Leaves opposite. Flowers 



perfect. 



2. SCII^FFERIA. Ovary 2-celIed. Stigmas 2. Drupe 2-seeded. Leaves alternate, riowers 



dioeeious. 



* * Fruit a 3 - 5-valved capsule : seeds arilled. 

 3 EU0NYMU3. Flowers perfect, in axUlary cymes. Calyx flat. Leaves opposite. 



4. CEL.\STUUS. Flowers polygamous, in terminal raceiiies. Calyx cup-shaped. Capsule 



globose. Leaves alternate. 



5. MAYTENUS. Flowers axillary. Calyx flat. Capsule 3-augled. Leaves alternate. 



1. MYGIWDA, Jacq. 



Flowers perfect. Sepals 4, united below. Petals 4, roundish. Stamens 4. 

 Ovary 4-celled, with a solitary anatropous ovule in each cell. Style short, 4-clcft, 

 Drupe 1-celled, 1-seeded, Seed erect. Embryo in thin albumen. Cotyledons 

 flat. Kadicle inferior. — Tropical shrubs, with small opposite coriaceous leaves, 

 and minute white or reddish flowers on axillaiy forking peduncles. 



1. M. Rhaeoma, Swartz, Branches slender, pubescent, angled ; leaves ob- 

 long, obtuse, crenate, nearly sessile, paler and often discolored beneath ; pedun- 

 cles filiform, shorter than the leaves, cymosely 2-4-flowered ; calyx-lobes round, 

 pubescent ; petals oval, concave, ciliate ; stigmas spreading ; dmpe obovate. — 

 South Florida, — A small shrub. Leaves ^'- 1' long, glabrous. 



2. M. ilicifolia, Lam. Branches terete, pubescent ; leaves smooth, round- 

 ovate, spiny-toothed, short-petioled ; peduncles shorter than the leaves, umbel- 

 lately 3 - 4-flowered ; calyx 4-toothed ; petals rounded ; drupe obovate, pointed 

 with the persistent style.— South Florida. —A small shrub. Leaves ^'-5' 

 long. 



