Order 42.— CELASTRAOB^. 



289 



ginate scale above the base ; the 2 lower remote from the stamens 

 their scales crested ; stamens 8, unequal ; style trifid ; capsule mem- 

 branous, inflated.^Climbing herbs with biternate Ivs. Lower pair of 

 pedicels changed to tendrils. 



C. Haliicabum L. Plant nearly glabrous ; Ifts. ovate-lanceolate, incisely lobed and 

 dentate ; fr. pyriform-globous, large, bladder-like. — Native on the Missouri and 

 its branches, Torr. & Gr. KTaturahzed in the Western States, Mead. A curious 

 vine, 4 to 6f in length, with remarkably, large, inflated, membranous cap- 

 sules. Jl. § 



4. STAPHYLEA, L. Bladder-nut. (A Greek word, meaning a 

 cluster of grapes ; from the form of the fructification.) Fls. t^ ; calyx 

 of 5, colored, persistent sepals ; petals and stamens 5 ; styles 3 ; cap- 

 sules 2 to 3, membranous r.ii'l iiiflatod ; seeds not ariloJ. Shrubs with 

 opposite, 3 to 7-foliate Ivs. and caducous stipules. 



S. trifolia L. Lvs. temate ; rac. pendulous ; pet. ciliate below ; fr. ovate. — A hand- 

 some shrub, 6 to 8f high, in moist woods and thickets, Can. to Car. and Tenn. 

 Lils. oval-acuminate, serrate, pale beneath, with scattered hairs. Pis. white, very 

 elegant, in a short, drooping raceme. The most remarkable feature of the plant 

 is its large, inflated capsules, which are 3-sided, 3-parted at top, 3-celled, contain- 

 ing several hard, small nuts or seeds, with a bony, smooth and polished testa. 

 May. 



Order XLII. CELASTRACE^. SiApr Trees. 



Shrubs with simple leaves alternate or opposite, with flowers small, regular 4 or 

 5-merous, perigynous, sepals and petals both imbricated in estivation, stamens alter- 

 nate with the petals and inserted on a disk which fills up the bottom of the calyx; 

 carpels 2 to 5, styles united. (Kg. 460.) Fruit free from the calyx with 2 to 5 cells. 

 Seeds ariled, few, albuminous. 



An order closely related to the last, embracing about 80 genera and 200 species^ chiefly Inhab- 

 iting the temperate zone of each hemisphere. They possess acrid and bitter properties, some- 

 times emetic and stimulant. 



1. CELASTRUS, L. Staff-tree. Flowers often imperfect; calyx 

 flat, of 5 united sepals ; corolla spreading, of 5 sessile petals ; capsule 

 subglobous, or 3-angled, 3-celled ; seeds with an arillus, 1 to 2 in each 

 cell. — Climbing shrubs, with alternate, deciduous lvs. and minute, de- 

 ciduous stipules. 



C. scandens L. Unarmed; st. woody, twining; lvs. oblong, acuminate, serrate- 

 rac. terminal ; fls. dioecious. — A climbing shrub in woods and thickets, the stems 

 twining about other trees or each other, ascending to a great height. Lvs. alter- 

 nate, stipulate, petiolate, smooth. Fls. in small racemes, greenish white. Sds. 

 covered with a scarlet aril, and contained in a 3-valved capsule, continuing upon 

 the stem through the winter. Jn. 



3. EU6NYfflUS, Tourn. Spindle Tree. (Gr. ev, good, Svofm, 

 name.) Flowers perfect; calyx flat, of 5 (sometimes 4 or 6) united 

 sepajs ; corolla flat, inserted on the outer margin of a glandular disk • 

 stamens 6, with short filaments ; capsule colored, 5-angled, 5-celled, 

 5-valved; seeds ariled. — Shrubs erect or trailing, with opposite, ser 

 rate lvs. 



1 E. atropurpiireus Jacq. Spindle Tree. BuRNMGBgsH. Branches smooth ; 

 lvs. elliptic-ovate, petiolate, acuminate, finely serrate, puberulent beneath; ped. 

 compressed, many-flowered; fls. usually 4-merous; capsule smooth, lobed. — A 

 smooth shrub, 4 to lOf high, in shady woods, U. S., E. of the Miss. Lvs. 2 to S' 



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