0.71] 



CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 



131 



mucilaginous. Flowers yellowish-green, in clusters; 

 blooming in early spring. Fruit a small bluish drupe 

 on a thick reddish stem. Ripe in 

 September. Twigs greenish-yellow. 



Sassafras officinale, Nees. 

 FRAS.) Leaves very variable in form, 

 ovate, entire, or some of them 2- to 3- 

 lobed, soon smooth. Flowering as the 

 leaves are putting forth. Tree 15 to 100 

 ft. high, common in rich woods. The aro- 

 matic fragrance is strongest in the bark 

 of the roots. Wood reddish, rather hard 

 and durable. 



GENUS 70. LfNDERA. 



Shrubs with deciduous, alternate, aromatic leaves and 

 small, yellow flowers in close clus- 

 ters along the branches. Fruit a 

 drupe on a not-thickened stalk. 



Lindera Benzoin, Blume. (SPICE-BUSH. 

 BENJAMIN-BUSH.) Leaves alternate, ob- 

 long-ovate, entire, pale beneath, very 

 spicy in odor and taste ; twigs green ; leaf- 

 buds scaly; drupes red, ripe in autumn. 

 Flowers 4 to 5 together in sessile umbels ; 

 in early spring, before the leaves expand. 

 Common in damp woods throughout. 



ORDER XXXIV. EUEAGNACEJE. 



(OLEASTER FAMILY.) 



A small order of shrubs or small trees, with the leaves 

 covered with silvery scurf. 



GENUS 71. EUEAGNTJS. 



Leaves alternate, entire; flowers axillary, stemmed; 

 fruit drupe-like with an 8-grooved stone. 



