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SPINDLE TREE AND BUCKTHORN ALLIANCE. 



The Spindle Tree Family. 



(Celastrace^.) 



Small trees, shrubs or climbing ampelids, with alternate 

 simple leaves. Flowers generally small, axillary in umbel- 

 like clusters. Sepals, petals, and stamens 4 or 5 each, seated 

 round the margin of a fleshy disk. (The petals sometimes 

 absent.) Pistils 1 or 4. Fruit a 3- or 5-valved, dry or 

 drupe-like capsule. Seeds as in Euonymus^ surrounded by 

 a red fleshy arillus. 



This is a widely distributed family, consisting of about 

 800 species, chiefly natives of temperate regions ; special 

 virtues are ascribed to them in their different localities. 

 They are of a somewhat poisonous nature. A few are useful 

 as timber trees. 



Spindle Tree {Euonymus europceus). A small tree or spread- 

 ing shrub, native of this country, generally found growing in 

 hedges or in margins of woods. The wood is compact, 

 capable of being split as fine as a hair, and is used by watch- 

 makers, being known to them by the name of Dog-wood. It 

 is also used for shoe-pegs, skewers, and the like. 



Euonymus atropurpureus. A shrub or small tree, native 

 of North America, where it is known by the name of Burning 

 Bush, its numerous crimson capsules and red arils giving 

 it a bright appearance when seen at a distance. It forms an 

 ornamental shrub in this country. 



Celastrus scandens. A trailing and climbing shrub, native 

 of North America. Its fruit is orange-coloured, as is also 

 the aril, and has the appearance of wax, hence its name. 

 Waxwork Shrub. Many species of this genus are natives 

 of the Cape of Good Hope, and are generally hard-wooded 

 scrubby shrubs, Celastrus pyracanthus having hard spines 2 

 to 3 inches in length. C. cymosus has showy white flowers, 

 but of a very foetid odour. 



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