WOODBINE TRIBE 



135 



Natural Order XL 



CAPRIFOLIACE^.— The Woodbine Tribe 



Calyx attached to the ovary, usually with bracts at the base ; 

 corolla regular or irregular, 4 to 5-cleft ; stamem equal in number 

 to the lobes of the corolla and alternate with them ; ovary 3 to 

 5-celled ; stigmas 1-3 ; fruit usually fleshy, crowned by the calyx. 

 This tribe comprises shrubs and herbaceous plants of very different 

 habits, and is interesting from containing the fragrant Honeysuckle 

 or Woodbine, and the elegant little plant which Linnaeus fixed on 

 to commemorate his name. They are principally confined to the 

 northern hemisphere, and several are natives of Britain. The 

 Common Elder was formerly held in high repute for its medicinal 

 properties ; and preparations of the leaves, flowers, and fruit are 

 still used as medicine in rural districts, whilst a pleasant wine is 

 often made from the fruit. 



1. Sambucus (Elder). — Calyx 5-cleft ; corolla wheel-shaped, 5- 

 lobed ; stamens 5 ; stigmas 3, sessile ; herry 3 to 5-seeded. (Name 

 from the Greek, sambuktf, a musical wind-instrument, in making 

 which the wood is said to have been used.) 



2. Viburnum (Guelder Rose). — Calyx 5-cleft ; corolla funnel- 

 shaped, 5-lobcd ; stamens 5 ; stigmas 3, sessile ; berry i-seeded. 

 (Name, the Latin of the plant.) 



3. Lonicera (Honeysuckle). — Calyx small, 5-toothed ; corolla 

 tubular, irregularly 5-cleft ; stamens 5 ; style thread-like ; stigma 

 knobbed ; berry i to 3-celled, with several seeds. (Named in 

 honour of Adam Lonicer, a German 

 botanist.) 



4. Linn^a. — Calyx s-c\tii\ corolla 

 bell-shaped, 5-cleft, regular ; stamens 

 4, 2 longer ; fruit dry, 3-celled, i cell 

 only containing a single seed. 



I. Sambucus {Elder) 



I. 5. niger (Common Elder). — A 

 small tree, remarkable for the large 

 quantity of pith contained in its 

 young branches and for the elasticity 

 of its wood. The leaves are pinnate, 

 of a strong, unpleasant odour ; the 

 flowers, which are borne in cymes 

 with 5 principal branches, are 

 creamy white and of a sickly smell ; 

 the fruit globose, shining, dark pur- Sambucus Niger (Common Elder) 



