THE HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 
[ORDER XXXVII. CAPRIFOLIACEyE] 
HIS family is distinguished by the petals being united together at the base into a tube 
(monopetalous), and situated on the top of the calyx-tube and seedcase, which are united 
together (the seedcase thus forming an inferior fruit, which is usually a many-celled, few-seeded 
berry), and in its having no stipules at the base of its opposite leaves. 
It is a small order, and is chiefly found in the Northern Hemisphere. It consists chiefly 
of trees and shrubs, the Guelder Rose, Weigela, Laurustinus, Snowberry, and different varieties of 
Honeysuckle forming some of our garden favourites. It is also interesting as containing the little 
plant (Linnaea borealis) dedicated to the great Swedish naturalist, Linnaeus. 
MOSCHATEL. (ADOXA, LINN.)— A genus consisting of the following one species, which is 
unlike any other plant — 
Common or Tuberous Mosehatel. (Adoxa Mosehatellina, Linn.)— Flowers small, 
pale green, in a small, 4-sided head of 5 flowers on a long stalk, consisting of x terminal flower 
with a 2-lobed calyx, a 4-lobed, spreading corolla, 8 stamens, and 4 stigmas on very short styles ; 
the 4 flowers forming the sides of the head having a 3-lobed calyx, a 5-lobed, spreading corolla 
10 stamens, and 5 stigmas. Fruit a berry, round, fleshy, and pale green, containing 4 or 5 i-seeded 
cells, only 1 seed as a rule developing. Stem 2-8 inches high, erect, 4-angled, terminating in 
the head of flowers, with a single pair of opposite leaves some distance below, these leaves being 
very shortly stalked and divided to the base into 3 lobed leaflets, the long-stalked root leaves 
being similarly divided. A very fragile plant, with a slight musk-like scent. [ Plate 60. 
Not uncommon. Woods and moist, shady banks. April — May. Perennial. 
ELDER. (SAMBUCUS, LINN.) — Flowers small, numerous, white or pink, in large, flat clusters 
(corymbs). Sepals 5, combined with the seedcase, separating into 5 minute teeth ; petals 5, 
united into a short tube and separating into 5 blunt, spreading lobes ; stamens 5 ; carpels 3-5, 
united into a seedcase with 3-5 cells, crowned with the 3-5-lobed stigma. Fruit a berry. Trees 
and shrubs, rarely herbs, with opposite leaves, which are divided to the midrib into several pairs 
of toothed (serrate) leaflets and 1 terminal one (imparipinnate). 
Common Elder. (Sambucus nigra, Linn.) — As just described. The flowers white or 
cream-coloured, in large, flat clusters 5-6 inches across. The fruit a large, flat cluster of 
round, polished, purple-black berries. A tree 20 feet high, or only a shrub, with the stem and 
branches full of pith ; and the leaves divided to the midrib into 2 or 3 pairs of egg-shaped, 
pointed, toothed leaflets and 1 terminal one (imparipinnate). 
