Ordsb 42.— CELASTEACE^. 289 



gfinate scale above the base ; the 2 lower remote from the stamens, 

 their scales crested ; stamens 8, unequal ; style trifid ; capsule mem- 

 branous, inflated. — Climbing herbs with biternate Ivs. Lower pair of 

 pedicels changed to tendrils. 



C. Hali^cabum L. Plant nearly glabrous; Ifla ovate-lanceolate, inciaely lobed and 

 dentate; fr. pyriform-globous, large, bladder-like. — ^Native on the Missouri and 

 its branches, Torr. A Gr. Naturalized in the Western States, Mead. A curioiw 

 vine, 4. to 6f in length, with remarkably, largo, inflated, membranous cap- 

 sules. Jl. § 



4. STAPHYLEA, L. Bladder-nut. (A Greek word, meaning a 

 cluster of grapes ; from the form of the fructification.) Fls. 5? ; calyx 

 of 5, colored, persistent sepals ; petals and stamens 6 ; styles 3 ; cap- 

 gules 2 to 3, membranous and inflated ; seeds not arilod. Shrubs with 

 opposite, 3 to 7-foliate Ivs. and caducous stipules. 



S. trifolia L. Lvs. temate ; rac pendulous ; pet. ciliate below ; fr. ovate. — A hand- 

 some shrub, G to 8f high, in moist woods and thickets, Can. to Car. and Tenn. 

 Lfls. oval-acuminate, serrate, pale beneath, with scattered hairs. Fls. white, very 

 elegant, in a short, drooping raceme. The most remarkable feature of the plant 

 is its large, inflated capsules, which are S-sided, 3-parted at top, S-coUed, contain- 

 ing several hard, small nuts or seeds, with a bony, smooth and polished testa. 

 May. 



Ordkk XLII. CELASTRACE^. Staff Treks. 



Shrubs with simple leaves altomato or opposite, with flowers small, regular, 4 or 

 B-merous, perigynous, aepaU and petaXs both imbricated in asstivation, stamens alter- 

 nate with the petals and inserted on a disk which fills up the bottom of the calyx .- 

 carpels 2 to 5, styles united. (Fig. 460.) Pmit free from the calyx with 2 to 5 eellp. 

 Seeds ariled, few, albuminous. 



An order closely related to the last, embracing (vbout 30 genera and 200 species, chiefly Inhah- 

 Iting the temperate zone of each hemisphere. They possess acrid and bitter properties, somc- 

 timea emetic and Etimalaot. 



1. CELASTRUS, L. Staff-teke. Flowers often imperfect; caly.x 

 flat, of 5 united sepals ; corolla spreading, of 5 sessile petals ; capsule 

 subglobous, or 3-angled, 3-celled ; seeds with an arillus, 1 to 2 in each 

 cell. — Climbing shrubs, with alternate, deciduous lvs. and minute, de- 

 ciduous stipules. 



C. sodndens L. Unarmed ; st. woody, twining ; lvs. oblong, acuminate, serrate ; 

 rac. terminal ; fls. dioecious. — A climbing shrub in woods and thickets, the stems 

 twining about other trees or each other, ascending to a great height. Lvs. alter- 

 nate, Btipolate, petiolate, smooth. Fls. in small racemes, greenish white. Sds. 

 covered with a scarlet aril, and contained in a 3-valvod capsule, continuing upon 

 the stem through the winter. Jn. 



3. EUONYMUS, Tourn. Spindle Tree. (Gr. ev, good, Svo[ui, 

 name.) Flowers perfect; calyx flat, of 5 (sometimes 4 or 6) united 

 sepals ; corolla fiat, inserted on the outer margin of a glandular disk ; 

 stamens 5, with short filaments ; capsule colored, 5-angled, 6-celled, 

 5-valved ; seeds ariled. — Shrubs erect or trailing, with opposite, ser 

 rate lvs. 

 1 B. atropurpCireus Jacq. Spindle Tree. Bl-rsino BtJSn. Branches smooth ; 



IvB. elkptic-ovate, petiolate, acuminate, finely serrate, puberulent beneath; ped. 



compressed, many-flowered; fls. usujjly 4-merous; capsule smooth, lobed. — A 



emooth shrub, 4 to lOf high, in shady woods, U. S., E. of the Miss. Lvs. 2 to B' 



19 



