14 Staff-Tree (Celastracece). [No. 4 



No. 4.— Family CELASTR.ACE.E. (Staff-Tree Fam.) 



(1) Genus Celastrus, L. 

 Fig. 6.— Bitter-Sweet. Wax- Work. Staff-Tree. C, scdndens, L. 



Flowers, small, greenish, regular ; in clusters at the ends 

 of the branchlets ; the staminate and the pistillate 

 forms often on separate plants. Petals, five, distinct, 

 spreading, inserted with the alternating stamens on 

 the edge of the disk that lines the base of the calyx. 

 Sepals, five, united, forming a cup-shaped calyx. Sta- 

 mens, five. Style, thick. Seed-case, free, three-celled, 

 three- to six-seeded. June. 



Leaves, two to three and a half inches in length, simple, 

 alternate, slightly fine-toothed, smooth, from egg- 

 shape and oblong to reverse egg-shape. Apex, 

 pointed. Base, pointed or sometimes rounded. 

 Stipules, minute and soon falling. 



Fruit, about one third inch in diameter, round, orange- 

 color, three-celled, three- to six-seeded ; opening when 

 ripe, and showing within a rich scarlet cover of the 

 seeds. Seeds, oblong, reddish-brown, one or two in 

 each cell. A berry-like capsule. September. 



Found, oftenest along streams and over old walls and 

 thickets, from North Carolina northward. 



A strong woody climber, twining upon itself in coils 

 and snarls, over fences and walls and bushes to great dis- 

 tances. Very showy in autumn and winter by reason of 

 its brilliant orange and scarlet fruit. 



This is one of the best of vines for decoration. In 

 country homes it is in great demand, especially at the 

 Christmas time. 



