EUONYMUS

euonymus, in botany, a genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, widely distributed in the north temperate zone, and represented in britain by _e. europaeus_, the spindle tree, so called from its hard tough wood being formerly used for spindles. it is a shrub or small tree growing in copses or hedges, with a grey smooth bark, four-angled green twigs, opposite leaves and loose clusters of small greenish-white flowers. the ripe fruit is a pale crimson colour and splits into four lobes exposing the bright orange-coloured seed. _e. japonicus_ is a hardy evergreen shrub, often variegated and well known in gardens. the greek name [greek: euonymos], of good name, lucky, is probably a euphemism; the flowering was said to foretell plague.