Z. vulgàris.
Zìzyphus vulgàris, Lam. (Jujube.) Leaves ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, serrate, smooth, and glossy green on both sides, upper side quite dark; slightly hairy beneath on the veins; prickles twin, one recurved, sometimes none. New growth of the year green, and resembling a once-pinnate compound leaf and usually dropping off in the autumn like one. Leaves 10 to 20 on a twig, 2-ranked; flowers and drupes nearly sessile in the axils; fruit small (¼ in.), blood-red when ripe. A small tree (10 to 30 ft. high), of recent introduction from Syria; hardy at Philadelphia, but needing some protection at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts.
Order XV. SAPINDÀCEÆ. (Soapberry Family.)
A large order represented in all countries, and so varied in its characteristics as to form several sub-orders.
Genus 23. ÆSCULUS.
Deciduous trees or sometimes shrubs, with opposite, palmately compound leaves with serrated, straight-veined leaflets. Flowers usually conspicuous in dense terminal panicles. Fruit large, leathery-coated, often rough, with one or few large Chestnut-like but bitter seeds. Fruit large in midsummer, hanging on the tree until frost.
| * Fruit prickly. (A.) | ||
| A. Leaflets usually 7; flowers widely spreading | 1. | |
| A. Leaflets 5-7, red-spotted and rough; flowers rosy red | Æsculus rubicunda (1). | |
| A. Leaflets usually 5; flowers not much spreading | 2. | |
| * Fruit smooth or nearly so. (B.) | ||
| B. Flowers bright red | 3. | |
| B. Flowers yellow, purplish or pinkish | 4. | |
| B. Flowers white, in long, slender, erect clusters | 5. | |
Æ. Hippocástanum.
1. Æsculus Hippocástanum. (Common Horse-chestnut.) Leaves of 7 obovate, abruptly pointed, serrated leaflets. Flowers very showy in large clusters, with 5 white, purple and yellow spotted, broadly spreading petals. A variety with double flowers is in cultivation. May or June. Fruit large, covered with prickles. Seeds large, chestnut-colored. Tree of large size, with brown twigs; cultivated everywhere; from Asia.