454 Oleace.e. 



THE SWEET-LEAF OR HORSE SUGAR. Genus SYMPLOCOS L'Her. 



The genus Si/niplocuf! comprises about 180 species, so tar as known, chiefly of the tropical 

 regions of America, Asia, and Australia. One inhabits southeastern United States ranging as 

 far nortli as southern Delaware. 



For eliaraeters see description of the family, this being the only genus. 



The name is from Greek roots referring to the fact that the stamens are united together 



in clusters. 



For speeies sec pp. 3S0-3S1. 



STORAX FAMILY. STYRACE.^]:. A. DC. 



Trees or slu'ubs with more or less stellate or scaly pubescence and confined to the warmer 

 regions of the globe. About 75 species are known grouped in 7 genera. Two genera are rep- 

 resented in the United States and of these the following one is arborescent. 



Leaves alternate, simple, pinnately veined and without stipules. Flowers regular, perfect: 

 calyx more or less adnate to the ovary ; corolla gamopetalous or polypetalous. with 4 or 8 

 lobes or petals ; stamens twice as many as the lobes of the corolla or more, adnate to the tube 

 and arranged in a single series : anthers introrse ; ovary 2-.'')-celled, with slender simple style 

 and terminal stigma; ovules anatropous. Fruit a drupe with thin dry flesh, sometimes winged; 

 hard and mostly 1-seeded stone containing straight embryo and copious albumen. 



THE SILVER-BELL TREES. Genus MOHRODENDRON Britt. 



Trees and shrubs of the southern Atlantic states of North America and comprised in 

 three species of which two are arborescent and 1 shrubby. One of the former ranges as far 

 north as southern Illinois. 



Lciires deciduous, oval to obovate-oblong. membranaceous, denticulate. Flowers bell- 

 shaped, in fascicles or short racemes, with slender drooping pubescent bracteolate pedicels from 

 the axils of the leaves of the previous year; calyx tube obconic, 4-ribbed, tomeutose, adnate 

 to the ovary and with short 4-toothed limb ; corolla epigynous, 4-lobed or divided, thin and 

 white ; stamens 8-16, with flat filaments more or less united at base and slightly adnate to 

 the base of the corolla : ovary 2-4-celled, with an elongated style, terminal stigma and 4 ovules 

 in each cell, the upper ascending and the lower pendulous. Fruit a dry oblong. 2-4 winged, 

 drupe, 1-4-celled. tipped with the style and calj'x teeth and containing a thick-walled bony 

 stone ; embryo terete, axile. 



Named in compliment to Dr. Chas. Molir, botanist and author of the Flora of Alahama, etc. 

 For speeies see pp. 3S2-383. 



OLIVE FAMILY. 0LEACE;E Lindl. 



Trees and shrubs widely distributed throughout tropical and temperate regions, particu- 

 larly of the northern hemisphere, and some of great economic value. There are about 20 

 genera and 500 species. Five genera are indigenous to the United States and of these four 

 have arborescent representatives. 



Leaves mostly opposite, simple or compound and without stipules. Flowers i:)erfect, difeci- 

 ous or polygamous, regular and in panicles, cymes or fascicles; calyx inferior, 2-4-lobed or 

 none : corolla of 2-4 petals or none ; disk none ; stamens 2-4 with short filaments and introrse 

 2-celled anthers, dehiscent usually by lateral longitudinal slits ; ovary superior, 2-celled with 

 2 pendulous anatropous ovules in each cell ; style simple, t^riiit in the American arborescent 

 representatives a samara or berry with pendulous seeds containing straight embryo and fleshy 

 albumen. 



KEY TO THE GENERA. 



a Fruit a samara ; leaves compound : flowers mostly unisexual and without petals. 



Fraa:inus. 



a' Fruit a drupe ; leaves simple 



Flowers dioecious, mostly apetalous. appearing before the leaves Chionanthus, 



Flowers perfect with 4 linear petals, appearing after the leaves Torestiera. 



THE ASHES. Genus FRAXIXUS L. 



Trees and shrubs of about 40 species with tough wood, stout branchlets having large pith 

 and obtuse or rounded scaly buds, the terminal one the largest. It is of wide distribution in 

 north-temperate regions and within the tropics on the islands of Cuba and Jamaica. About 16 



