148 PEXTAXDRIA M0N0GYNIA 



115. CBANOTHUS. L. JYute. Gen. 229. 



[An ancient Greek name ; applied to this genua.] 



Calyx &-angled, 5-clcft, campanulas, circumscissed alter flowering; 

 the base turbinate, persistent, supporting and somewhat adhering to 

 the fruit. Petals small, incurved, saccate or cucullate, compressed, 

 with long slender claws. Style mostly trifid. Capsule obtusely tri- 

 gonous, somewhat 3-lobed, 3-celled, 8-secdcd, opening on the inner side. 



Frtttescent: unarmed; leaves alternate ; flowers thyreoid, in cymose fascicle?, 

 terminal and axillary. Nat. Ord. 96. Lined. Rhamnbjb. 



1, C. ambricakus, L. Leaves oblong-ovate, acuminate, serrate, trip- 

 ly nerved, pubescent beneath ; common peduncles axillary, elongated, 

 mostly leafless. Beck, Bot, p. 74. 



Amkricax Cki.vothis. Vulgo — New Jersey Tea. Red-root. 



Root perennial, largo, dark red. Stem 2to3 or 1 feet hie;!), shrubby, branched ; 

 branches terete, pubescent. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long, and 1 to 2 inches wide 

 sometimes unequal, or slightly cordato at use, upper surface nearly sir., otb 

 nerves quite hairy beneath, and more sr less ferruginous \ petioles one fourth te 

 half an inch long, pubescent. Plotters numerous, small, in an oblong tormina"! 

 thyrsus; pedicels fasciculate, one third lo half an inch long, subclavate, colored. 

 CatyxsegmenU short, broad, acute* white, deciduous. Petals white; the border 

 Incurved nearly at right angles, and f rming a sac or hood, on a filiform claw. 

 Stamens inserted on the rim of the persistent tase of the calyx. Style mostly tii- 

 fid, sometimes 2 or l-cleft,-(Styles 2 to 3, united to the middle, DC). Capsule 

 tricoccous, or resembling a dry 3-lobed berry. Seeds 1 in oach cell, large, oval 

 greenish ash-color, smooth and s'.iining, externally convex, the inner surface v. ith 

 two cavities divided by a ridge, or keel. 



Hab. Woodlands, and borders of thickets : common. Fl. June- July. Fr. Se 



Obs. This little shrub possesses considerable astringency ; and may, doubtless 

 answer an useful purpose, where medicines of that character are indicated. 'J he 

 root is said to afford a cinnamon col-red dye. The leaves were used by the Whigs 

 as a substitute for Tea, during the American Revc hit fi< n : and, although the sen' 

 sible properties of the green plant do not promise a very palatable beverage, I em 

 assured by my friend Mr. Joshua Hoopbs, that the leaves, when duly prepared, 

 are quite equal to common Bvhta. Four or live additional species are enumerates 

 in the U. States. 



113. CELA8TRUS.Z. JVv.v. Gen. 2:31. 



[A name borrowed from the ancient Greek writers.] 



DioicorsLT Polygamous : Calyx 5-parted, persistent. Petals small. 

 ungmculate. Ovary immersed in the disk, striate with 10 lines' 

 Stigma obtuse, emarginate, or 2 or 3 cleft. Capeule 2 or 3-valved • 

 valves coriaceous, scptifcrous in the middle. Seeds 2 or 3, covered 

 with a pulpy 4-cleft colored ariUus. 



Jhrubs: climbing, or erect; unarmed, or spinose ; leaves alternate, minute! v 

 s^pular; peduncles terminal, or axillary, paniculately racemose, or solitary. Afe 

 &ra. UJ. Limll. Celastrinsjb. 



1. C. scandens, L. Stem climbing, unarmed ; leaves oval, or obs- 

 vate, acuminate, serrate ; racemes terminal. Beck, Bot. p. 72. 

 Qfiinwe Celasthus. Fulgd-C*' nbing Staff-tree. Waxwork. 



