the spindle-tree: A genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 43rd order, Duma. The corolla is pentapetalous; the capsule pentagonal, quinquilocular, quinquevalved, and coloured; the seeds hooded. There are two species:

1. The europaeus, hath an upright woody stem 10 or 15 feet high, garnished with oblong opposite leaves; from the sides of the branches proceed small bunches of greenish quadrid flowers, succeeded by pentagonous capsules, disclosing their seeds in a beautiful manner in autumn.

2. The americanae, or evergreen spindle-tree, hath a shrubby stem, dividing into many opposite branches, rising six or eight feet high, garnished with spear-shaped evergreen leaves growing opposite, and from the sides and ends of the branches. The flowers are quinquefied and whitish, and come out in small bunches, succeeded by roundish, rough, and protuberant capsules, which rarely perfect their seeds in this country. Both these species are hardy, and will succeed in any soil or situation. The berries of the first sort vomit and purge very violently, and are fatal to sheep. If powdered and sprinkled upon hair, they destroy lice. If the wood is cut when the plant is in blossom, it is tough and not easily broken; and in that state it is used by watchmakers for cleaning watches, and for making skewers and tooth-pickers. Cows, goats, and sheep, eat this plant; horses refuse it.