222 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



FAMILY VI. THE WAX MYRTLE FAMILY. MYRICACEJE. 



LlNDLEY. 



A family of about thirty species of leafy, aromatic shrubs 

 with resinous glands and dots, and alternate, simple, entire 

 leaves, found in all climates. It has a near affinity to the 

 birch family, differing in its ovaries having only one cell, and 

 in the character of its leaves. Some species produce eatable 

 and agreeably acidulous fruits ; the greater part have their fruit 

 covered with tubercles of a resinous substance similar to wax. 

 The species found in this country are low, fragrant shrubs, 

 remarkable for their tonic, aromatic, and astringent properties. 

 The male and female arnents are on the same or on distinct 

 plants; the male, cylindrical or thread-like, formed of bract-like 

 scales, with from two to eight stamens in each flower; the 

 female, ovate, sessile, densely imbricate ; with ovaries one-celled, 

 and containing one ovule, with two, long, thread-like stigmas. 

 The fruit is a drupaceous, one-seeded nut. 



We have two genera, the Myrtle, distinguished by its resin- 

 ous or waxy berries ; and the Sweet Fern, by its globular, com- 

 pound fruit, with shining nuts set in bristling scales. 



VI. 1. THE MYRTLE. MYRICA. L. 



Male and female flowers on distinct plants. Scales of the 

 aments crescent-shaped. Stamens four. Fruit drupaceous. 

 Leaves wedge-lance-shaped. 



Sp. 1. The Sweet Gale. Dutch Myrtle. Myrica gale. L. 



A dark-looking bush from two to five feet high, growing in 

 places which are inundated through a part of the year, and 

 forming large, close-tangled patches or islets. 



The branches and upper part of the stem are of a rich dark 

 purple color, polished and shining. On older stems and lower, 

 the outer bark cracks and rolls horizontally, becoming rough 

 and of a lighter color, but still somewhat shining, giving the 



