Genus 43. LAGERSTRŒ̀MIA.

Flowers with 6 long-clawed petals inserted on the broadly spreading calyx; fruit 3- to 6-celled pods with many winged seeds.

L. Índica.

Lagerstrœ̀mia Índica, L. (Crape-myrtle.) Leaves roundish-ovate, thick, smooth, short-petiolate; branches winged; flowers in terminal clusters with large, delicately crisped, long-stemmed petals of pink, purple, and other colors. A beautiful small tree, or usually a shrub, from India; often cultivated in the North in conservatories; hardy as far north as Washington.

Order XXI. ARALIÀCEÆ. (Ginseng Family.)

A small order of herbs, shrubs, and trees, here represented by the following genus:

Genus 44. ARÀLIA.

Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with pinnately or palmately compound leaves; here including Acanthopanax with palmately cleft leaves. Flowers whitish or greenish, in umbels, often forming large panicles. Fruit small, berry-like, several-celled, several-seeded.

* Leaves 2 to 3 times odd-pinnate (Aralia proper) 1, 2.
* Leaves simple, palmately cleft (Acanthopanax) 3.