ORDER XLII. RHAMNACEiE. 269 



tropous, generally with fleshy albumen. Shrubs, generally, 

 sometimes small trees, with thorny branches. Flowers not con- 

 spicuous, usually perfect, but sometimes monoecious, dioecious, 

 or polygamous. 



Genus I.— BEKCHE'MIA. Nick. 5—1. {Zizyphus of Ell.) 

 (Named after Berchem.) 



Flowers minute. Calyx tubular, 5-parted, with erect seg- 

 ments. Petals 5, convolute. Stamens inclosed by the petals. 

 Ovary half inclosed in an annular disk. Stamens 5. Style 1. 

 Fruit drupaceous, with a long, 2-celled nut. Flotvers in small 

 racemose panicles. A climbing shrub, with tough, flexible, 

 pendent branches. 



1. B. volu'bilis, (D. C.) Leaves ovate, ribbed, slightly undulate, mu- 

 cronate, glabrous. Flowers in small umbels, racemes, or panicles, axil- 

 lary and terminal. Fruit drupaceous, 1 — 2-seeded, purple. — ^. May 

 — June. In rich, damp soils. Macon. 12 — 15 feet. 



Genus II— RHAM'NUS. L. 5—1. 

 (From a Celtic word, signifying a tuft of branches.) 



Calyx urceolate or tubular, 4 — 5-cleft. Petals 4 — 5, emar- 

 ginate or 2-lobetl, convolute. Torus lining the tube of the calyx. 

 Ovary free, 2 — 4-celled. Styles 2 — 4, generally distinct. Fruit 

 a drupe, containing 2 — 4 seeds. Flowers small, generally in 

 axillary clusters. 



1. R. Cauolinia'nus, (Walt.) A shrub, unarmed. Leaves alternate, 

 oval-oblong, obscurely serrate or entire, glabrous, with parallel veins. 

 Flowers in small umbels, perfect, 4 — 6-flowered. Petals 2-lobed, mi- 

 nute, embracing the stamens. Stamens 4 or 5. Fruit the size of a pea, 

 generallv 3-seeded. — White. ^ . May — June. Common along the coast. 

 4—6 feet 



Genus III— SAGERE'TTA. Brong. 5—1. 

 (Named after Segeret) 



Calyx urceolate, 5-cleft. Petals convolute or cucullate. 

 Stamens 5. Disk concave, entire. Ovary partly imbedded 

 in the disk, 3-celled, peduncles very short. Style short, 3-lobed. 

 Fruit indehiscent, baccate, 3-celled. 



1. S. Michaux'ii, (Brong.) A shrub, much branched, thorny whe*n old. 

 Leaves small, shining, opposite, membranaceous, oblong-ovate, denticu- 

 late, petioles very short. Flowers minute, in paniculate spikes. Petals 

 small, entire, inclosing the stamens. Stigma nearly sessile. Fruit 3- 

 augled. — White. ""? . Oct. — Nov. Along the sea-coast. 6 — 8 feet. 



