XLVI. EBENA‘CEZ: DIOSPY ROS. 625 
more. Ovarium many-celled; cells 1—2-seeded. Style usually divided 
Stigmas bifid or trifid. Berry few-seeded by abortion. Albumen cartila- 
ginous. The double stamens, pendulous ovule, and unisexual flowers, 
distinguish this order. (G. Don.) 
Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, deciduous ; quite entire, coriaceous. 
Flowers axillary, peduncles solitary. 
Genus I. 
a 
DIOSPY‘ROS ZL. Tue Date Pium. Lin. Syst. Polygamia Dice'cia. 
Identification. Lin. Gen., No. 1161.; Don’s Mill., 4. p. 38. 
synonymes. E’benus Comm. ; Guaiacana Tourn. 371.; Plaq inier, Fr. ; Dattelpfi Ger. 
Derivation, Diospuros (dios, divine, and puros, wheat,) was a name given by the ancients to the 
common gromwell (Lithospérmum officinale). Its application to the date plum probably arose 
from confounding the Greek puros, wheat, with the Latin pyrus, a pear tree, to the fruit of which 
the date plum may have been thought to bear some resemblance. 
Gen. Char., Sc. Flowers polygamous. Calyx deeply 4-cleft, sometimes 3- or 
6-cleft. Corolla’ urceolate, 4-cleft ; sometimes 3- or 6-cleft. Male flowers 
having the stamens inserted by pairs into the base of the corolla, twice the 
number of its segments, with double or twin filaments, and the rudiment 
of a pistil. Hermaphrodite flowers having fewer and sterile stamens. Ova- 
rium 8—12-celied ; cells ]-seeded. Berry globose, with a spreading calyx 
which is at length reflexed. (Don’s Mill.) 
Leaves, as in the Order. Flowers white, or pale yellow.— Trees or 
shrubs; natives of the South of Europe or North America. Seeds; and 
the American kinds in peat,’ soil kept moist. 
£1. D. Lo‘trus L. The- European Lotus, or common Date Plum. 
Identification. Lin, Sp., 1510. ; Willd. Sp., 4. p. 407.; Don’s Mill., 4. p. 38. 
Synonymes. Pseudoldtus Matth.; Guatacdna patavina Tourn. ; Italian Lignum Vite, Wood of 
Life, Pockwood, Bastard Menynwcod, Gerard; Date of Trebisonde ; Plaqueminier faux Lotier 
Fr.; Italianische Dattelpf er. 
1214. D. Lotus. 
Engravings. Pall. Fl. Ross., 1. p. 20. t. 58.; Wangh. Amer., $4. t. 28 f. 58; the plates in Arb, 
Brit., Isc edit., vol. vi. ; and.our fig. 1214. 
ss 
