XII. THE CINNAMON FAMILY. 317 



served many other instances of the vigor with which the tupelo 

 stands out against the sea breeze. 



Another fine tree of the same kind is near by, rising to sev- 

 enty or eighty feet in height, without large branches till towards 

 the top. 



Farther landward is a noble tree, sixty feet high, with a large 

 flat top. This, at two feet from the surface, is six feet two 

 inches in circumference; and, at from four to eight or nine feet, 

 five feet eight inches. Its branches are small and nearly erect, 

 a few large ones coming out at twenty or twenty -five feet from 

 the ground. It is a remarkable thing to see trees of the same 

 species growing near each other, so entirely unlike in aspect 

 and habit as these. 



Three or four other species of Nyssa are found in the United 

 States, and, where well known, are considered by botanists as 

 distinct. Those who are acquainted with these, will have re- 

 cognized, in the above description, which is taken from nature, 

 peculiarities of some of the other species. An attentive study 

 of the protean forms of the oak, has led me to doubt the value 

 of distinctions of nearly allied species, founded on any thing but 

 the fruit. Till I shall have had better opportunities of exam- 

 ining the fruit of the several varieties of Nyssa, I shall not be 

 able to say, confidently, whether there is only one, or whether 

 there are several species in the State. 



The tupelo is found around the ponds in Plymouth County, 

 about Buzzard's Bay, in the swamps in Franklin, and the other 

 river counties, and in other parts of the State. It is found near 

 Portsmouth, N. H., and in the Middle and Southern States, as 

 far as Carolina and Georgia. 



FAMILY XII. THE CINNAMON FAMILY. LAURINEJE. 



Ventenat. 



Most of the plants of this family are trees of great beauty, 

 and often of a lofty stature. It also contains shrubs and a few 

 leafless, parasitic, climbing herbs. Only eleven or twelve spe- 



