(after Dominico Cyrillo, professor of medicine at Naples, 1734-1799). Cyrillaceae. Woody or nearly tree-like, rarely cultivated for its handsome bright green foliage and white flowers in slender racemes.

Leaves alternate, without stipules, short-petioled, entire, glabrous, deciduous or nearly persistent: flowers small, white, in narrow slender racemes, 5-merous; stamens 5-10; ovary superior with 2 short styles: fruit a small indehiscent 2-celled caps, with 2 seeds. - Probably one variable species from N. C. to Fla. west to Texas, and in W. India and S. Amer. Plant with handsome bright green foliage, and graceful racemes of white flowers, hardy north to N. Y. Thrives best in humid sandy soil and shady position. Prop, by seeds and cuttings under glass, with slight bottom heat.

Racemiflora

Linn. Leatherwood. Shrub, occasionally tree to 30 ft.: leaves cuneate, oblong or oblanceolate, usually obtuse, reticulate-veined, 2-3 in. long, bright green, turning orange and scarlet in fall, but in tropical climates evergreen: racemes 4-6 in. long, erect, at length nodding. B.M. 2456. S.S. 2: 51. G.C. III. 30: 198. J.H. III. 43: 197. - The variety from W. Indies has been described as C. antillana, Michx., that of Brazil as C. racemifera, Vandelli, and a small - lvd. form from Fla. and La. as C. parvi-fblia, Raf.

Alfred Rehder.