288 Styracacee—ffalesia. 
1. H. tetraéptera. Common Snowdrop Tree.—This is the 
species commonly cultivated. It is distinguished by its 4- 
winged fruit, which is from 1 to 2 inches long. The flowers 
somewhat resemble in size and outward appearance those of 
the common Snowdrop. They are produced in April or May 
before the leaves have attained their full development. This 
and the other species are popularly known under the name 
of Silver-bell trees. H. diptera, as the name indicates, has 
usually a 2-winged fruit; and H. parviflora is a species with 
smaller flowers. 
Styraa officinalis, which furnishes the Storax of the shops, is a 
native of Asia Minor and South of Europe, and is occasionally 
seen in English gardens, but being rather tender it is com- 
paratively rare. It is a small deciduous shrub in this country, 
with ovate leaves shaggy beneath, and racemes of white flowers 
about an inch or a little more in diameter. The fruit is 
spherical, usually 1-celled by abortion, and enclosed within the 
calyx-tube. There are besides the above three or four hardy 
North American species very desirable on account of the pro- 
fusion of their showy white flowers, but they are almost un- 
known in this country. The foliage is more or less clothed 
with a stellate or scurfy indumentum. 
The genus Symplocos comprises many species, chiefly from 
the tropical and warmer parts of Asia and America. It is 
characterised by having a 5-lobed calyx adhering to the base 
of the ovary, 5 petals slightly combined at the base, and very 
many stamens in several series. The flowers too are yellow, 
and the pubescence not stellate. S. Japénica is a Japanese 
shrubby species of recent introduction ; and 8. tinctoria is a 
very fragrant North American species known under the names 
of Sweet-leaf and Horse-sugar, from the fondness evinced by 
animals for browsing upon its sweet foliage. 
Orosr LXV.-EBENACEZ:. 
Hard-wooded trees or shrubs with simple alternate entire 
exstipulate leaves and inconspicuous regular polygamous 
axillary flowers. Calyx free, 4- to 6-lobed. Corolla 4- to 6- 
lobed. Stameus 8 to 16. Fruit in the following genus a 
large globular several-celled berry; cells containing 1 large 
flat shining albuminous seed. A small order comprising 
