discoid, 5-radiate. Ovary ovoid, surrounded at the base by an annular disk,
5-celled, with about 12 ovules in each cell. Capsule ovoid, 5-celled, dehiscing
from the base upward, with 5 septifragal valves; the very thick and
woody sarcocarp at length separable from the endocarp; the axis large, perL
sistent, 5-angled above, 5-winged below with the dissepiments. Seeds suspended
from the summit of the axis, about 12 in each cell, imbricated in two
rows, rather flat; the thickened and spongy integument expanded above into
an oblong wing, which is traversed by the filiform funiculus. Embryo transverse
: radicle very short, looking towards the side of the c e ll: cotyledons
conferruminate and confounded with the fleshy albumen.—A large tree,
with reddish-brown wood. Leaves abruptly pinnate: leaflets small, somewhat
inequilateral. Panicles axillary or somewhat terminal, loosely-flowered.
Ad. Juss.—Mahogany.
S. Mahogoni (Linn.)—Cav. diss. 7. p. 365, t. 209; Catesh. Car. if. 81;
DC. prodr. 1. p. 624; Ad. Juss. 1. c. Cedrus Mahogonij Mill.
The Mahogany is mentioned in Muhlenberg’s catalogue as a doubtful native
of Florida. We have seen, in the herbarium of the late Mr. Croom, a
capsule from a collection made in Southern Florida by the late Dr. Leitner,
who considered the tree to which it belonged to be the true Mahogony.—
The figure of Gsertner (fru c t. 2. t. 96.) differs in several points from S. Mahogoni,
as is noticed by Ad. Jussieu, and probably represents some other plant.
Order X L I I . V IT A C E iE . Juss.
Ampelidete, Rich. ; Kwnth, rf-c.
Calyx minute, nearly entire, or 5-toothed. Petals 4-5, inserted
upon the outside of an annular disk, inflexed and valvate in aestivation,
distinct, or cohering above and calyptriform, caducous. Stamens as
many as the petals and opposite them, inserted on the surface of the
disk : filaments distinct or slightly cohering at the base, or attached
to the outside of a 5-lobed urceolus : anthers ovate, versatile. Ovary
2-celled, with 2 erect collateral ovules in each c e ll: style short or
none: stigma simple. Fruit a globose mostly pulpy berry, often by
abortion 1-celled, 1-few-seeded. Seeds anatropous, erect, with a
hard testa. Embryo much shorter than the horny or fleshy albumen :
radicle slender : cotyledons lanceolate or subulate.—Usually climbing
shrubs. Leaves simple or compound ; the lower ones opposite; the
upper alternate, opposite the racemes or thyrsoid panicles, which are
sometimes changed into tendrils. Flowers greenish and inconspicuous,
occasionally polygamous.
1. VITIS. L in n .; Gcertn. fr . t. 106; W. <f- Am. prodr. Ind. Or. 1. p. 124.
Vitis & Cissus, Linn. <f-c.
Calyx nearly entire. Petals 4-5, distinct and spreading, or united at the
apex, but distinct at the base, and falling off like a calyptra. Torus elevated
in the centre, and surrounding the lower part of the ovary, with which it is
incorporated, girt at the base by a short ring (expansion of the torus) upon
which the stamens are inserted. Ovary partly enclosed within the torus,
2- (or occasionally 3-) celled, with 2 ovules in each cell. Berry 1-2- (or occasionally
3-) celled, 1-4-seeded. Peduncles usually changed, in whole or
in part, into tendrils. Am.
§ 1. Petals 4 (rarely 5), usually distinct at the apex: stamens 4 (rarely 5) :
style usually as long as the ovary: stigma minute. Peduncles either
wholly Jloriferous or changed into tendrils.—Cissus, Linn.
1. V. bipinnata: leaves bipinnate, glabrous; leaflets incisely serrate ; flowers
pentandrous; berry 2-celled ; cells 1-2-seeded.—V. arborea, Willd. sp.
1. p. 1183. Ampelopsis bipinnata, Michx.l fl. 1. p. 160; DC. prodr. 1.p. 633.' Cissus stans, Pers. syn. 1. p. 143; Pursh, jl. 1. p. 170. C. bipinnata,
Ell. sk.l. p. 304 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 144.
Damp rich soils, near rivers, Virginia! to Georgia! west to Arkansas!
June-July.—Stem upright or somewhat twining, glabrous. Lower leaves
sometimes decompound: leaflets an inch long, ovate or rhombic-ovate sometimes
cordate; the veins beneath pubescent and slightly connected at their
axils by a ciliate membrane. Panicle short, spreading, and apparently twice
bifid, without tendrils. Petals greenish-white, expanding. Torus somewhat
turbinate, adhering to the lower half of the ovary. Style conical. Berry
globose, depressed, as large as a small pea, blackish when ripe, slightly hairy
one of the cells usually 2-seeded, the other one-seeded. Seeds with 2 deep
depressions on one side. . *
2. V. incisa (Nutt, mss.) : leaves trifoliolate, thick and somewhat fleshy •
leaflets incisely toothed or lobed, cuneate at the base; flowers tetrandrous*
and tetrapetalous ; berry globose-obovate, 1-celled, 1-seeded.
Prairies and copses, Texas and Arkansas, Dr. Leavenworth! Arkansas
Nu tta ll! July—A vine, climbing by numerous tendrils to the height of 4-5
fe e t: stem woody, and as well as the branches, warty. Petioles about an
inch long. Leaves pale green and very glabrous on both surfaces ; the lowest
ofies 3-lobed or cordate at the base; upper ones trifoliolate: leaflets 1-2
inches long, sometimes 2-3-lobed. Panicle somewhat corymbed or com-
poundly umbellate. Calyx 4-toothed. Petals pale green, connected. Torus
hemispherical; the border obscurely toothed. Style conspicuous rather slender.
Berry the size of a small pea, black, shining. Seed with 2 deep pits
at the base, so that when it is cut transversely the albumen appears to be 2-
celled.—The leaves, leaflets, and flowers are so deciduous that it is almost
impossible to dry the plant so as to prevent its falling to pieces.
3. V. indivisa (Willd.): leaves simple, cordate or truncate at the base
somewhat 3-lobed, pubescent on the nerves beneath ; flowers pentandrous
and pentapetalous ; berry 1-celled, 1-2-seeded.— Willd. baum. 538, ex DC.
prodr. 1. p. 633. Ampelopsis cordata, Michx.l fl. 1. p. 159; DC. I c
Cissus Ampelopsis, Pers. syn. 1. p. 142; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 170; E ll. sk 1
p. 305.
Swamps, Southern States! west to Louisiana ! and Arkansas! June.__
Stem long, climbing, glabrous.—Leaves 3-4 inches broad, coarsely serrate •
the points of the serratures glandular. Panicles apparently twice or thrice
bifid, with spreading branches, without tendrils. Calyx very obscurely toothed.
Ovary surrounded with a cup-shaped torus, somewhat globose • ovules
2: Style tapering: stigma small. Berry a little larger than a pepper-corn
seldom perfecting more than a single seed. 1 ’