448 FLOWERS OF FIELD, HILL, AND SIVAMP 



13. Cissus 



CIssus Ampelopsis. — Family,Y'me. Ci5i/i?r, greenish. Leaves, 

 coarsely and sharply toothed, pointed at apex, heart-shaped at 

 base, simple, not cut or lobed. 



Sepals Tiwd petals, 4 or 5. Fruit, a berry with little pulp, not 

 edible, bluish or greenish, i to 3-seeded. Flowers, small, in a 

 loose, slender panicle, appearing in June. 



Along river banks from Virginia southward. 



14. Climbing or Shrubby Bittersweet. Waxwork, 

 Climbing StafF-tree 



Celastrus scandens. — Family, Staff-tree. Color, greenish 

 yellow. leaves, alternate, on petioles, elliptical or oval, some- 

 what rounded at base, pointed at apex, finely toothed, 2 to 5 

 inches long. Time, June. 



Pistillate and staminate flowers, often on different plants. 

 Calyx, 5 -divided. Corolla of 5 expanding petals, slightly 

 fringed. Stamens, 5. 



It is the fruit which makes this a favorite plant, a scarlet aril, 

 containing several seeds in an orange-colored, 3-parted saucer. 

 Underneath is a 5-parted, persistent calyx. 



A twining shrub, growing often 15 or 20 feet in length, and 

 covering rocks, bushes, and trees. It buries its roots by the 

 waters of some roadside spring, and its yellow leaves, with its 

 rich golden fruit, make one of the most beautiful touches of 

 autumn. 



15. Blue Vetch 



V'icia Cracca. — Family, Pulse. Color, blue, becoming pur- 

 plish. Leaves, pinnate, of 10 to 12 pairs of sharply pointed 

 leaflets, with i or more tendrils on the end. 



Corolla, papilionaceous. Calyx, short, with unequal teeth. 



