CELASTRACE.E. (STAFF-TREE FAMILY.) 75 



into three valveless nutlets. Embryo in the axis of thin albumen. — Tropical, 

 chiefly climbing shrubs, with alternate stipulate toothed leaves, and perfect or 

 polygamous flowers in terminal spiked clusters. 



1 • G. Domingensis, L. Branches pubescent ; leaves oblong-ovate, ta- 

 pering into an obtuse point, serrate, petioled ; spikes elongated, bearing a tendril 

 at the base; drupe globose, 3-winged. — South Florida. — Leaves 2' -4' long 

 Flowers minute, yellow. Lobes of the disk emarginate. 



Order' 40. CELASTRACE^G. (Staff-tree Family.) 



Shrubs, with simple stipulate leaves, and small regular flowers. — : 

 Sepals and petals 4 - 5, imbricated in the bud. Stamens 4-5, alternate 

 with the petals, and inserted with them on the disk which fdls the bottom 

 of the calyx. Ovary free, 1 - 5-celled, with 1 - several erect ovules in 

 each cell. Styles united. Fruit capsular or drupaceous. Seeds often 

 arilled. Embryo in the axis of the albumen. — Flowers perfect or 

 polygamous. 



Synopsis. 



* Fruit a 1 -2-seeded drupe. 



1. MYGTXDA. Ovary 4-celled. Stigmas 4. Drupe 1-seeded. Leaves opposite. Flowers 



perfect. 



2. SCII.F.FFERIA. Ovary 2-celled. Stigmas 2. Drupe 2-seeded. Leaves alternate. Flowers 



dioecious. 



* * Fruit a 3 - 5-valved capsule : seeds ari'.Ied. 

 3 KUONYMD3. Flowers perfect, in axillary cymes. Calyx flat. Leaves opposite. 

 4. CELASTKUS. Flowers polygamous, in terminal racemes. Calyx cup-shaped. Capsule 



globose. Leaves alternate. 

 ~j. MAYTEXUS. Flowers axillary. Calyx flat. Capsule 3-angled. Leaves alternate. 



1. MYGINDA, Jacq. 



Flowers perfect Sepals 4, united below. Petals 4, roundish. Stamens 4. 

 Ovary 4-celled, with a solitary anatropous ovule in each cell. Style short, 4-cleft. 

 Drupe 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed erect. Embryo in thin albumen. Cotyledons 

 flat. Radicle inferior. — Tropica] shrubs, with small opposite coriaceous leaves, 

 and minute white or reddish flowers on axillary forking peduncles. 



1. M. Rhacoma, Swartz. Branches slender, pubescent, angled ; leaves ob- 

 long, obtuse, crenate, nearly sessile, paler and often discolored beneath ; pedun- 

 cles filiform, shorter than the leaves, cymosely 2-4-flowercd ; calyx-loins round, 



ent ; petals oval, concave, ciliate ; stigmas spreading ; drupe obovafe. — 

 South Florida. — A small shrub. Leaves $'- 1' long, glabrous. 



2. M. ilicifolia, Lam. Branches terete, pubescent ; leaves smooth, round- 

 orate, spiny-toothed, short petioled ; peduncles shorter than the leaves, umbel- 

 lately 3 - 4-flowered ; calyx 4-toorhed ; petals rounded ; drupe obovatc, pointed 

 with the persistent style. — South Florida. — A small shrub. Leaves £' -%' 

 lon~ 



