THE HORSE-CHESTNUT. A79 
a short, rather abrupt acumination, deeply serrate, often reflexed 
at the margin, green above, lighter below. They are from two 
to five inches long and one third less in breadth. Petiole rather 
short, margined above. The calyx is somewhat bell-shaped, 
with 5 yellowish-green segments; the corolla 5 greenish-yellow 
petals, expanding, somewhat fringed on the edge. ‘The flowers 
are in terminal panicles, with small leaves at the base of the 
lower branches. The fruit is of an irregular globular shape, 
supported by the 5, rounded, thin segments of the persistent 
calyx, and surmounted by a short, capitate stigma, and con- 
taining an orange-colored pulp, and 2 to 6 seeds surrounded by 
a pulpy aril. When mature, the 3 orange-colored valves open 
and disclose this as a scarlet berry. The leaves turn early to a 
yellow. Climbing upon a chestnut, early in autumn, its orange- 
scarlet clusters of shining berries, and its yellow leaves, contrast 
finely with the bright deep green trunk and leaves of the tree. 
It forms a beautiful covering for walls or trellis work, and 
should be cultivated for its picturesque effect. It may be prop- 
agated by seeds or by layers. 
THE HORSE-CHESTNUT. 
To this place belongs the Horss-Cuzstnut ‘Tree F'amiy, 
Hippocastanicee, D C., of which a detailed account is not given 
here, as no plants belonging to it are indigenous to Massachu- 
setts. Itis asmall family, consisting of one species, the culti- 
vated Horse-Chestnut, which is a native of northern and cen- 
tral India, and five or six others, (twenty, according to Spach, 
Hist. Nat., Vol. If, 16,) which are natives of the temperate 
regions of this country. They are magnificent trees or beauti- 
ful shrubs, distinguished for their showy, pyramidal flowers 
and chestnut-like fruit; and extremely easy of cultivation, 
The cultivated tree, A’sculus hippocdsianum, was introduced 
into the gardens of France in 1615 from Constantinople. It is 
sometimes a tree of eighty feet in height and three or four in 
diameter. The wood is of little value; the bark abounds in 
