VI. 1. THE SWEET GALE. 223 



plant a resemblance to a black birch in miniature. The roots 

 are somewhat matted together, and extend to some distance. 



The leaves are from three to six fourths of an inch in length, 

 and usually less than half an inch wide, wedge-lance-shaped, 

 with a few serratures towards the extremity, which is commonly 

 a little pointed ; downy on the veins beneath, and sprinkled 

 with minute, yellow, resinous dots on both surfaces. 



Towards the end of summer, the next year's aments are 

 formed in the axils of the upper leaves, in the shape of short, 

 ovoid, pointed, scaly buds. The male and female flowers are on 

 separate plants. The male are in catkins an inch or more long, 

 in twos or threes at the end of the branches. They are made 

 up of heart-shaped, purple scales, loosely arranged on an axis. 

 Each scale rests on a short footstalk, is striated within, has a 

 membranous border, and is set, towards the base without, with 

 numerous, amber-colored resinous dots. Stamens about four, 

 at the base of the scale; the anthers are short, large, opening 

 with four valves. „ 



The fertile flowers are in ovoid catkins about a line in length, 

 imbricate with triangular scales, from behind which appear the 

 purple, tapering, thread-like, bifid stigmas. When mature, the 

 compound fruit is in short, cylindrical aments three or four 

 lines long and three wide, sometimes solitary, but commonly in 

 groups of two to six at the end of a short branch. It is made 

 up of ovaries surmounted by the withering styles and com- 

 pressed between two swollen, fleshy, three-sided, pointed scales, 

 abundantly sprinkled with yellow resinous dots. 



When crushed, the leaves feel somewhat resinous, and exhale 

 a strong, penetrating, rather unpleasant odor. They are often 

 placed in drawers for the purpose of keeping out moths. 



The young buds, Dr. Richardson says, are used by the Indians 

 in Canada, to dye their porcupine's quills. This plant is found 

 in Labrador and Newfoundland, and as far as Fort Norman on 

 the Mackenzie River. It is also found in Connecticut, Pennsyl- 

 vania and Virginia. 



