es alternate, deciduous, simple, oblique at base. Fruit an obscurely
3-lobed, 3-celled, 3-seeded pod in dichotomous clusters, both axillary
and terminal.

[Illustration: H. dulcis]

=Hovenia dulcis=, Thunb. Leaves long-petioled, more or less ovate to
cordate, serrate, palmately 3-ribbed, much darker on the upper surface;
both sides slightly roughened with scattered hairs. Fruit sweet, edible,
in clusters in the axils of the leaves; seeds lens-shaped, with a ridge
on the inner side. Flowers white; in July. A large, broad-topped tree,
introduced from Japan. Hardy at Washington, but dies to the ground in
the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts.

GENUS =22. ZIZYPHUS.=

Leaves simple, alternate, deciduous, 3-ribbed. Flowers axillary,
5-petaled. Fruit fleshy, drupe-like, containing a 1- to 2-celled nut.

[Illustration: Z. vulgaris.]

=Zizyphus vulgaris=, 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 (1/4 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. SAPINDACEAE.= (SOAPBERRY FAMILY.)

A large order represented in all countries, and so varied in its
characteristics as to form several sub-orders.

GENUS =23. AESCULUS.=

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
_AEsculus rubicunda_ (1).

=A.= Leaflets usually 5; flowers not much spreading 2.

* Fruit smooth or nearly so. (=B.=)

=B.= Flowers bright red 3.

=B.= Flowers yel