Chapter L: NUMMULARIA, L. (MONEYWORT.) Smooth; stems trailing and creeping;

leaves roundish, small, short-petioled; peduncles axillary, 1-flowered; divisions of the corolla broadly ovate, obtuse, longer than the lance-ovate calyx-lobes and stamens.--Escaped from gardens into damp ground in some places. July--Sept. (Nat. from Eu.)

Sec. 2. NAUMBURGIA. _Corolla very deeply 5- (or 6--7-) parted into linear divisions (somewhat purplish-dotted), with a small tooth in each sinus; filaments distinct, equal; leaves opposite, the lowest scale-like._

3. L. thyrsiflora, L. (TUFTED LOOSESTRIFE.) Smooth; stem simple (1--2 deg. high); all but the lower leaves lanceolate, the axils of one or two middle pairs bearing short-peduncled head-like or spike-like clusters of small light yellow flowers.--Cold swamps, from Penn. to S. Ill., Iowa, and northwestward. June, July. (Eu.)

8. GLAUX, Tourn. SEA-MILKWORT.

Calyx bell-shaped, 5-cleft; lobes ovate, petal-like. Corolla wanting. Stamens 5, on the base of the calyx, alternate with its lobes. Capsule 5-valved, few-seeded.--A low and leafy fleshy perennial, with opposite oblong and entire sessile leaves, and solitary nearly sessile (purplish and white) flowers in their axils. (An ancient Greek name, from [Greek: glauko/s], _sea-green_.)

1. G. maritima, L.--Sea-shore of N. Eng. from Cape Cod northward. Also in subsaline soil, Minn. to Neb., and westward. June. (Eu.)

9. ANAGALLIS, Tourn. PIMPERNEL.

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped, with almost no tube, 5-parted, longer than the calyx; the divisions broad. Stamens 5; filaments bearded. Capsule membranaceous, circumscissile, the top falling off like a lid, many-seeded.--Low, spreading or procumbent herbs, mostly annuals, with opposite or whorled entire leaves, and solitary flowers on axillary peduncles. (The ancient Greek name, probably from [Greek: a)na/], _again_, and [Greek: a)ga/llo], _to delight in_.)

A. ARVENSIS, L. (COMMON PIMPERNEL.) Leaves ovate, sessile, shorter than the peduncles; petals obovate, obtuse, fringed with minute teeth or stalked glands.--Waste sandy fields. June--Aug.--Flowers variable in size, scarlet, sometimes purple, blue, or white, quickly closing at the approach of bad weather; whence the English popular name of "_Poor Man's Weather-glass_." (Nat. from Eu.)

10. CENTUNCULUS, Dill. CHAFFWEED.

Calyx 4--5-parted. Corolla shorter than the calyx, 4--5-cleft, wheel-shaped, with an urn-shaped short tube, usually withering on the summit of the pod (which is like that of Anagallis). Stamens 4 or 5; filaments beardless.--Small annuals, with alternate entire leaves, and solitary inconspicuous flowers in their axils. (Derivation obscure.)

1. C. minimus, L. Stems ascending (2--6' long); leaves ovate, obovate or spatulate-oblong; flowers nearly sessile, the parts mostly in fours.--Low grounds, from Ill. and Minn, to Fla. and Tex., and westward. (Eu.)

11. SAMOLUS, Tourn. WATER PIMPERNEL. BROOK-WEED.

Calyx 5-cleft; the tube adherent to the base of the ovary. Corolla somewhat bell-shaped, 5-cleft, commonly with 5 sterile filaments in the sinuses. True stamens 5, on the corolla-tube, included. Capsule globose, 5-valved at the summit, many-seeded.--Smooth herbs, with alternate entire leaves, and small white racemed flowers. ("According to Pliny, an ancient Druidical name.")

1. S. Valerandi, L. Stem erect (6--12' high), leafy; leaves obovate or spatulate, the basal rosulate; bracts none; slender pedicels ascending, bracteolate in the middle. (Eu.)--Var. Americanus, Gray. More slender, becoming diffuse; racemes often panicled, the pedicels longer and spreading.--Wet places, through the U. S. June--Sept.

ORDER 62. SAPOTACEAE. (SAPODILLA FAMILY.)

_Trees or shrubs, mostly with a milky juice, simple and entire alternate leaves (often rusty-downy beneath), small and perfect regular flowers usually in axillary clusters; the calyx free and persistent; the fertile stamens commonly as many as the lobes of the hypogynous short corolla and opposite them, inserted on its tube, along with one or more rows of appendages and scales (or sterile stamens); anthers turned outward; ovary 4--12-celled, with a single anatropous ovule in each cell; seeds large._--Albumen mostly none; but the large embryo with thickened cotyledons. Style single, pointed.--A small, mostly tropical order, producing the Sapodilla or Star-apple, and some other edible fruits.

1. BUMELIA, Swartz.

Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-cleft, with a pair of internal appendages at each sinus. Fertile stamens 5; anthers arrow-shaped. Sterile stamens 5, petal-like, alternate with the lobes of the corolla. Ovary 5-celled. Fruit small, resembling a cherry, black, containing a large ovoid and erect seed, with a roundish scar at its base.--Flowers small, white, in fascicles from the axils of the leaves. Branches often spiny. Leaves often fascicled on short spurs. Wood very hard. (The ancient name of a kind of Ash.)

1. B. lycioides, Pers. (SOUTHERN BUCKTHORN.) Spiny (10--25 deg. high); _leaves wedge-oblong varying to oval-lanceolate_, with a tapering base, often acute, _reticulated, nearly glabrous_ (2--4' long); _clusters densely many-flowered_, glabrous, fruit ovoid.--Moist ground, Va. to S. Ill., Fla., and Tex. May, June.

2. B. lanuginosa, Pers. Spiny (10--40 deg. high); _leaves oblong-obovate or wedge-obovate, rusty-woolly beneath_, obtuse (11/2--3' long); _clusters 6--12-flowered_, pubescent; fruit globular.--Woods, S. Ill. to Fla. and Tex. July.

ORDER 63. EBENACEAE. (EBONY FAMILY.)

_Trees or shrubs, with alternate entire leaves, and polygamous regular flowers which have a calyx free from the 3--12-celled ovary; the stamens 2--4 times as many as the lobes of the corolla, often in pairs before them, their anthers turned inward, and the fruit a several-celled berry. Ovules 1 or 2, suspended from the summit of each cell._ Seeds anatropous, mostly single in each cell, large and flat, with a smooth coriaceous integument; the embryo shorter than the hard albumen, with a long radicle and flat cotyledons. Styles wholly or partly separate.--Wood hard and dark-colored. No milky juice.--A small family, chiefly tropical.

1. DIOSPYROS, L. DATE-PLUM. PERSIMMON.

Calyx 4--6-lobed. Corolla 4--6-lobed, convolute in the bud. Stamens commonly 16 in the sterile flowers, and 8 in the fertile, in the latter imperfect. Berry large, globular, surrounded at base by the thickish calyx, 4--8-celled, 4--8-seeded.--Flowers dioeciously polygamous, the fertile axillary and solitary, the sterile smaller and often clustered. (Name, [Greek: Dio/s], _of Jove_, and [Greek: puro/s], _grain_.)

1. D. Virginiana, L. (COMMON PERSIMMON.) Leaves thickish, ovate-oblong, smooth or nearly so; peduncles very short; calyx 4-parted; corolla pale yellow, thickish, between bell-shaped and urn-shaped, 6--8'' long in the fertile flowers, much smaller in the sterile; styles 4, two-lobed at the apex; ovary 8-celled.--Woods and old fields, R. I. and N. Y. to Iowa, and south to Fla. and La. June.--Tree 20--70 deg. high, with very hard blackish wood; plum-like fruit 1' in diameter, exceedingly astringent when green, yellow when ripe, and sweet and edible after exposure to frost.

ORDER 64. STYRACACEAE. (STORAX FAMILY.)

_Shrubs or trees, with alternate simple leaves destitute of stipules, and perfect regular flowers; the calyx either free or adherent to the 2--5-celled ovary; the corolla of 4--8 petals, commonly more or less united at base; the stamens twice as many as the petals or more numerous, monadelphous or polyadelphous at base; style 1; fruit dry or drupe-like, 1--5-celled, the cells commonly 1-seeded._--Seeds anatropous. Embryo nearly the length of the albumen; radicle slender, as long as or longer than the flat cotyledons. Corolla hypogynous when the calyx is free; the stamens adherent to its base. Ovules 2 or more in each cell.--A small family, mostly of warm countries, comprising two very distinct tribes.

Tribe I. STYRACEAE. Calyx 4--8-toothed or entire. Stamens 2--4 times as many as the petals, in one series; anthers linear or oblong, adnate, introrse. Cotyledons flat.--Flowers white, handsome. Pubescence soft and stellate.

1. Styrax. Calyx coherent only with the base of the 3-celled ovary. Corolla mostly 5-parted. Fruit 1-celled, 1-seeded.

2. Halesia. Calyx coherent with the whole surface of the 2--4-celled ovary, which is 2--4-winged and 2--4-celled in fruit. Corolla 4-lobed.

Tribe II. SYMPLOCINEAE. Calyx 5-cleft, imbricate. Stamens in several series; anthers short, innate. Embryo terete. Flowers yellow. Pubescence simple.

3. Symplocos. Calyx coherent. Petals 5, united merely at the base.

1. STYRAX, Tourn. STORAX.

Calyx truncate, somewhat 5-toothed, the base (in our species) coherent with the base of the 3-celled many-ovuled ovary. Corolla 5-parted (rarely 4--8-parted), large, the lobes mostly soft-downy. Stamens twice as many as the lobes of the corolla; filaments flat, united at the base into a short tube; anthers linear, adnate. Fruit globular, its base surrounded by the persistent calyx, 1-celled, mostly 1-seeded, dry, often 3-valved. Seed globular, erect, with a hard coat.--Shrubs or small trees, with commonly deciduous leaves, and axillary or leafy-racemed white and showy flowers on drooping peduncles; produced in spring. Pubescence scurfy or stellate. (The ancient Greek name of the tree which produces _storax_.)

1. S. grandifolia, Ait. Shrub 4--12 deg. high; leaves obovate, acute or pointed, _white-tomentose beneath_ (3--6' long); _flowers mostly in elongated racemes_; corolla ({1/3}' long) convolute-imbricated in bud.--Woods, S. Va. to Fla.

2. S. pulverulenta, Michx. Shrub 1--4 deg. high; leaves oval or obovate (1 or 2' long), _above sparingly puberulent, and scurfy-tomentose beneath; flowers_ (1/2' long) _1--3 together in the axils_ and at the tips of the branches, fragrant.--Low pine barrens, S. Va. to Fla. and Tex.

3. S. Americana, Lam. Shrub 4--8 deg. high; leaves oblong, acute at both ends (1--3' long), _smooth, or barely pulverulent beneath; flowers axillary or in 3--4-flowered racemes_ (1/2' long); corolla valvate in the bud.--Along streams, Va. to Fla., La., and Ark.

2. HALESIA, Ellis. SNOWDROP or SILVER-BELL-TREE.

Calyx inversely conical, 4-toothed; the tube 4-ribbed, coherent with the 2--4-celled ovary. Petals 4, united at base, or oftener to the middle, into an open bell-shaped corolla, convolute or imbricated in the bud. Stamens 8--16; filaments united into a ring at base, and usually a little coherent with the base of the corolla; anthers linear-oblong. Ovules 4 in each cell. Fruit large and dry, 2--4-winged, within bony and 1--4-celled. Seeds single, cylindrical.--Shrubs or small trees, with large and veiny pointed deciduous leaves, and showy white flowers, drooping on slender pedicels, in clusters or short racemes, from axillary buds of the preceding year. Pubescence partly stellate. (Named for _Stephen Hales_, author of Vegetable Statics, &c.)

1. H. tetraptera, L. Leaves oblong-ovate; fruit 4-winged, 11/2' long.--Banks of streams, W. Va. to Ill., south to Fla.

3. SYMPLOCOS, Jacq. SWEET-LEAF.

Calyx 5-cleft, the tube coherent with the lower part of the 3-celled ovary. Petals 5, imbricated in the bud, lightly united at base. Stamens very numerous, in 5 clusters, one cohering with the base of each petal; filaments slender; anthers very short. Fruit drupe-like or dry, mostly 1-celled and 1-seeded.--Shrubs or small trees, the leaves commonly turning yellowish in drying, and furnishing a yellow dye. Flowers in axillary clusters or racemes, yellow. (Name [Greek: sy/mplokos], _connected_, from the union of the stamens.)

1. S. tinctoria, L'Her. (HORSE-SUGAR, &c.) Leaves elongated-oblong, acute, obscurely toothed, thickish, almost persistent, minutely pubescent and pale beneath (3--5' long); flowers 6--14, in close and bracted clusters, odorous.--Rich ground, Del. to Fla. and La. April.--Leaves sweet, greedily eaten by cattle.

ORDER 65. OLEACEAE. (OLIVE FAMILY.)

_Trees or shrubs, with opposite and pinnate or simple leaves, a 4-cleft (or sometimes obsolete) calyx, a regular 4-cleft or nearly or quite 4-petalous corolla, sometimes apetalous; the stamens only 2 (rarely or accidentally 3 or 4); the ovary 2-celled, with 2 (rarely more) ovules in each cell._--Seeds anatropous, with a large straight embryo in hard fleshy albumen, or without albumen.--The Olive is the type of the true Oleaceae, to which belongs the Lilac (_Syringa_), etc.; and the Jessamine (_Jasminum_) represents another division of the order.

Tribe I. FRAXINEAE. Fruit dry, indehisccnt, winged, a samara. Leaves pinnate.

1. Fraxinus. Flowers dioecious, mostly apetalous, sometimes also without calyx.

Tribe II. OLEINEAE. Fruit, a drupe, or rarely a berry. Leaves simple.

2. Forestiera. Flowers apetalous, dioecious or polygamous, from a scaly catkin-like bud. Stamens 2--4.

3. Chionanthus. Flowers complete, sometimes polygamous. Calyx and corolla 4-merous, the latter with long and linear divisions.

4. Ligustrum. Corolla funnel-form, 4-cleft, the tube longer than the calyx.

1. FRAXINUS, Tourn. ASH.

Flowers polygamous or (in our species) dioecious. Calyx small and 4-cleft, toothed, or entire, or obsolete. Petals 4, or altogether wanting in our species. Stamens 2, sometimes 3 or 4; anthers linear or oblong, large. Style single; stigma 2-cleft. Fruit a 1--2-celled samara or _key-fruit_, flattened, winged at the apex, 1--2-seeded. Cotyledons elliptical; radicle slender.--Light timber-trees, with petioled pinnate leaves of 3--15 either toothed or entire leaflets; the small flowers in crowded panicles or racemes from the axils of last year's leaves. (The classical Latin name.)

[*] _Leaflets petiolulate; anthers linear-oblong; calyx small, persistent._

[+] _Fruit winged only at the upper part of the terete or nearly terete body._

1. F. Americana, L. (WHITE ASH.) _Branchlets and petioles glabrous_; leaflets 7--9, ovate- or lance-oblong, pointed, pale and either smooth or pubescent underneath, entire or sparingly serrate or denticulate; _fruit_ (about 11/2' long) _marginless below, abruptly dilated into a lanceolate, oblanceolate, or wedge-linear wing_ 2 or 3 times as long as the terete cylindraceous body.--Rich or moist woods, common from the Atlantic to Minn., E. Neb. and Kan. April, May.--A large and very valuable forest tree, with gray furrowed bark, smooth gray branchlets and rusty-colored buds. Monoecious flowers rarely occur.

[++][++] _Body of fruit more slender, tapering gradually from summit to base, more or less margined upward by the decurrent wing._

2. F. pubescens, Lam. (RED ASH.) _Branchlets and petioles velvety-pubescent_; leaflets 7--9, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, taper-pointed, almost entire, pale or more or less pubescent beneath; _fruit 11/2--2' long, the edges gradually dilated into the linear or spatulate wing_.--Low grounds, throughout our range; rare west of Ohio.--Tree of middle or large size; inner face of outer bark of the branches red or cinnamon-color when fresh.

3. F. viridis, Michx. f. (GREEN ASH.) _Glabrous throughout; leaflets 5--9_, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, often wedge-shaped at the base and serrate above, _bright green both sides; fruit_ much as in n. 2.--Along streams; common.--Intermediate forms occur with paler leaves somewhat pubescent beneath. A small or middle-sized tree.

[+][+] _Fruit with compressed and wing-margined body._

4. F. platycarpa, Michx. (WATER-ASH.) _Branchlets terete_, glabrous or pubescent; leaflets 5--7, ovate or oblong, acute at both ends, short-stalked; _fruit broadly winged_ (not rarely 3-winged), _oblong_ (9'' wide), _with a tapering base_.--Deep river-swamps, Va. to La. March. Tree of middle size.

5. F. quadrangulata, Michx. (BLUE ASH.) _Branchlets square_, at least on vigorous shoots, glabrous; leaflets 7--9, short-stalked, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, pointed, sharply serrate, green both sides; _fruit narrowly oblong, blunt, and of the same width at both ends_, or slightly narrowed at the base, often notched at the apex (11/2' long, 3--4'' wide).--Dry or moist rich woods, Ohio to Mich. and Minn., south to Tenn.--Large timber tree, the inner bark yielding a blue color to water.

[*][*] _Lateral leaflets sessile; anthers short-oblong; flowers wholly naked_.

6. F. sambucifolia, Lam. (BLACK ASH.) Branchlets and petioles glabrous; leaflets 7--11, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to a point, serrate, obtuse or rounded at the base, green and smooth both sides, when young with some rusty hairs along the midrib; fruit linear-oblong or narrowly elliptical, blunt at both ends.--Swamps and wet banks, N. Scotia to Minn., south to Va. and Mo.--Small or middle-sized tree, with very tough and fissile wood. Bruised foliage exhales the odor of Elder.

2. FORESTIERA, Poir.

Flowers dioecious, crowded in catkin-like scaly buds from the axils of last year's leaves, imbricated with scales. Corolla none. Calyx of 4 minute sepals. Stamens 2--4; anthers oblong. Ovary ovate, 2-celled, with 2 pendulous ovules in each cell; style slender; stigma somewhat 2-lobed. Drupe small, ovoid, 1-celled, 1-seeded.--Shrubs, with opposite and often fascicled deciduous leaves and small flowers. Fertile peduncles short, 1--3-flowered. (Named for _M. Forestier_, a French physician.)

1. F. acuminata, Poir. Glabrous, somewhat spinescent, 5--10 deg. high; leaves thin, oblong-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at both ends, often serrulate; drupe elongated-oblong, usually pointed.--Wet river banks, S. W. Ind. to Mo., south to Tex. April.

3. CHIONANTHUS, L. FRINGE-TREE.

Calyx 4-parted, very small, persistent. Corolla of 4 long and linear petals, which are barely united at base. Stamens 2 (rarely 3 or 4), on the very base of the corolla, very short. Stigma notched. Drupe fleshy, globular, becoming 1-celled, 1--3-seeded.--Low trees or shrubs, with deciduous and entire petioled leaves, and delicate flowers in loose and drooping graceful panicles, from lateral buds. (Name from [Greek: chio/n], _snow_, and [Greek: a)/nthos], _blossom_, alluding to the light and snow-white clusters of flowers.)

1. C. Virginica, L. Leaves oval, oblong, or obovate-lanceolate; flowers on slender pedicels; petals 1' long, narrowly linear, acute, varying to 5 or 6 in number; drupe purple, with a bloom, ovoid (6--8'' long).--River banks, N. J. and S. Penn. to Fla., Tex., and Mo.; very ornamental in cultivation. June.

4. LIGUSTRUM, Tourn. PRIVET.

Calyx short-tubular, 4-toothed, deciduous. Stamens 2, on the tube of the corolla, included. Berry 2-celled, 1--2 seeded.--Shrubs, with entire leaves and small white flowers in terminal panicles. (The classical name.)