staphyleacejE. (bladder-nut family.) 77 



and 3-Talved. Seeds I - 2 in each cell, enclosed in a fleshy scarlet aril. Embryo 

 in the axis of copious flcsliy albumen. — Climbing shrubs, with alternate leaves, 

 and small greenish flowers in axillary or terminal racemes. 



I. G. scandeus, L. Leaves oblong-ovate or obovate, acuminate, sen-ate, 

 smooth ; racemes terminating the branches, nearly simple ; capsule orange- 

 colored. — Woods and banks of streams along the mountains of North Carolina, 

 and northward. June. 



5. MAYTENUS, Juss. 



Flowers polygamous. Calyx flat, 5-cleft. Petals 5, Stamens 5, very short, 

 inserted with the petals under the edge of the flat circular disk which envelops 

 the ovary. Ovary 2 - 3-celled, with a solitary erect ovule at the base of each 

 cell. Style very short and thick. Stigma 2-3-lobcd. Capsule coriaceous, 

 1 -3-celled, loculicidally 2-3-valved, yellow within. Seeds 1-3, enclosed in a 

 thin pulpy aril. Embryo in the axis of thin fleshy albumen. — Trees or shrubs. 

 Leaves opposite or alternate. Flowers chiefly in axillary clusters. 



1. M. phyllanthoides, Bcnth. Leaves fleshy, alternate, oblong-obo- 

 vate, obscurely crenatc and reticulate, glabrous ; flowers minute, clustered, ap- 

 parently perfect; capsule obovate, 3-angled, 1-celled, l-3-seeded. — South 

 Florida. — Leaves 1 ' - 1 ^' long. 



Order 41. STAPHYL,EACE.a<;. (Bladder-nut Fasiily.) 



Erect shrubs, with opposite pinnate stipulate leaves, and perfect regular 

 pentandrous flowers. — Calyx 6-parted, colored. Petals and stamens 5, 

 perigynous. Ovary 2 - 3-eelled. Ovules 1 - 8 in each cell, attached to 

 the central angle of the cell. Fruit capsular or baccate. Seeds bony, 

 truncated at the base. Embryo straight in scanty albumen. 



1. STAPHYLEA, L. Bladdeb-nut. 



Flowers perfect. C.ilyx erect, persistent. Petals obovate, erect, alternate 

 with the sepals, imbricated in the bud. Stamens inserted with the petals into 

 the edge of the 5-lobed disk which fills the base of the calyx. Ovary 3-celled, 

 the cells sometimes separate above, 6-8-ovulcd. Capsule 3-lobcd, membrana- 

 ceous, inflated, few-seeded. — Leaflets stipellatc. Flowers white, in drooping 

 compound racemes. 



1. S. trifolia, L. Leaves trifoliolate ; leaflets ovate, acuminate, serrate, 

 pubescent beneath, the terminal one long-stalked ; r.iccmes lateral and terminal ; 

 styles 3, connivent; capsule reticulated, 1-3-seeded. — Damp woods. North 

 Carolina, Tennessee, and northward. May. — Shrub 10" high. Capsules 2' 

 long, 1 ' in diameter. 



7* 



