tUCKTHOEX FAMILY. 



85 



Order XX. EHAMNA'CEiE. (BucKTHO«.'f Family.) 



Shrubs or smalHrees having simple mostly alternate leaves vrith stipules minute or obsolete, 

 and small, regular, sometimes apetalous yZoi'.'er.s. Stamens 4-5, perigynous, as many as 

 the valvate sepals, alternate with them and opposite the hooded or concave petals. Sta- 

 mens and petals inserted nn the edge of a yZesAy dis/c which lines the tube of the calyx 

 and sometimes coheres with the lower part of the 2 - 5-celled ovary. Stigmas 2-5. FruU a 

 drupe or BOd with 1-seeded cells ; seeds not arilled, embryo large, in a sparing fleshy albu- 

 viien. 



1. RHA^SI'XUS, Tournef. Buckthorjt. 



[An ancient Greek name, alluding to its numerous branchlets.] 



Cclyx 4-5-cleft, the bell-shaped tube lined with the thin disk. Petals 

 4-5, small, notched at the eud, short-clawed, wrapped round the short 

 stamens or sometimes wanting. Ovary free, 2 — 4-celled. Fruit a berry- 



FiG. 64. A palmately compound leaf of Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis quinqutfolia') . 6S» 

 An enlarged flower. 



