=Diospyros Virginiàna=, L. (COMMON PERSIMMON.) Leaves 4 to 6 in. long, ovate-oblong, acuminate, rather thick, smooth, dark, shining above, a little pale beneath. Bark dark-colored and deeply furrowed in a netted manner with rather small meshes. Flowers yellowish, rather small, somewhat dioecious; the staminate ones urn-shaped with mouth nearly closed; the pistillate ones more open. June. Fruit large, 1 in.; very astringent when young, yellow and pleasant-tasting after frost. A handsome, ornamental tree, 20 to 60 ft. high, with very hard, dark-colored wood and bright foliage. Southern New England to Illinois and south; also cultivated. =Diospyros Lòtus= (DATE-PLUM), with leaves very dark green above, much paler and downy beneath, and fruit much smaller (2/3 in.), and =Diospyros Kàki= (JAPAN PERSIMMON), with large, leathery, shining leaves and very large fruit (2 in.), are successfully cultivated from Washington, D. C., southward. The under leaf represents D. Lotus, the upper one a small specimen of D. Kaki. [Illustration: D. Lòtus and D. Kàki.] ORDER =XXVIII. STYRACÀCEÆ.= (STORAX FAMILY.) A small order of shrubs and trees, mostly of warm countries. GENUS =56. STYRAX.= Shrubs or small trees with commonly deciduous leaves, and axillary, or racemed, white, showy flowers on drooping stems. Pubescence scurfy or stellate; fruit a globular dry drupe, its base covered with the persistent calyx, forming a 1- to 3-seeded nut. [Illustration: S. Americàna.] 1. =Styrax Americàna=, Lam. (AMERICAN STORAX.) Shrub or small tree (4 to 10 ft.), with oblong, alternate leaves acute at both ends, 1 to 3 inches long, smooth or very nearly so; fruit ½ in. long, in racemes of 3-4. Wild along streams, Virginia and south; occasionally cultivated, and probably hardy throughout. [Illustration: S. Japónica.] 2. =Styrax Japónica=, Sieb. (JAPAN STORAX.) Leaves alternate, membranaceous, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, serrate or crenate, ½ to 3 in. long, smooth or with short stellate hairs; flowers and fruit in long racemes. A beautiful low tree, 6 to 12 ft. high; from Japan. Hardy as far north as Philadelphia, but needing a little protection in Massachusetts and Missouri. GENUS =57. PTEROSTYRAX.= Similar to Styrax, but with the fruit in panicles, 5-winged, conical, and crowned with the persistent base of the style. [Illustration: P. corymbòsum.] =Pterostyrax corymbòsum=, Sieb. Leaves deciduous, 2 to 5 in. long, feather-veined, petioled, ovate, rarely cordate at base, sharply serrate, with stellate hairs. Shrub or small tree, 10 to 12 ft. high, cultivated from Japan; with ashy-gray bark, and white flowers turning yellowish or purplish with age; blooming in May, fruit ripe in August. Not perfectly hardy in Massachusetts. GENUS =58. HALÈSIA.=