G. 65] CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 119 
2. Bumélia lycioides, Pers. (SouTHERN 
BucxtTHorn.) Leaves 2 to 4 in. long, oval- 
lanceolate, usually bluntish with a tapering 
base and entire margin, deciduous, a lit- 
tle silky beneath when young. Clusters 
densely many-flowered (20 to 30); flowers 
small (¢ in.), smooth, greenish-white. May, 
June. A spiny shrub or tree, 10 to 25 ft. 
high, in moist ground, Virginia, west and 
south. About as hardy as the preceding 
species. 
B. lycioides. 
OrpDER XXVIII. EBENACEZAS. (Esony Faminy.) 
A small order of mostly tropical trees and shrubs. 
Genus 55. DIOSPYROS. 
Trees or shrubs with alternate, simple, entire, feather- 
veined leaves. Flowers small, inconspicuous, mostly di- 
evious. Fruit a globose berry with the 5-lobed thick 
calyx at the base, and with 8.to 12, occasionally 1 to 5, 
rather large seeds 5: ripe after frost. 
Diospyros Virginiana, L. (Common 
Persimmon.) Leaves 4 to 6 in. long, ovate- 
oblong, acuminate, rather thick, smooth, 
dark, shining above, a little pale beneath. 
Bark dark-colored and deeply furrowed in 
a netted manner with rather small meshes. 
Flowers yellowish, rather small, somewhat 
diwcious; the staminate ones urn-shaped 
with mouth nearly closed; the pistillate 
ones more open. June. Fruit large, 1 in.; 
very astringent when young, yellow and 
pleasant-tasting after frost. A handsome, 
ornamental tree, 20 to 60 ft, high, with 
very hard, dark-colored wood and bright 
D. Virginiana. foliage. Southern New England to Hlinoig 
