116 COlttPTOKlA. No. 24. 



P 



ly sinuate by large equal obtuse lobules — Flowers ap- 

 pearing before the leaves ; the male in many superior 

 lateral and cylindrical catkins, the female inferior in a 

 few globular or oval lateral catkins — scales of both 

 catkins imbricated concave, reniform, acuminate, ca- 

 ducous and one flowered. Male flowers with a two- 

 leaved perigone, shorter than the scales, each part 

 equal and keeled. Six stamina or anthers, on three 

 short forked filaments. Female flow^ers with a bristly 

 perigone of six filiform persistent segments, longer 

 than the scales. Pistil oval, two capillary styles. 

 Seeds evalve oval nuts or achenes^ compressed yel- 

 low, forming a round burr. 



HISTORY— This pretty shrub forms by itself a 



solitary genus of the natural order amentaceous, de- 



dicated by Solander and Alton to Compton, an En- 



lish bishop, and friend of Botany. It may be placed 



in MoNOECiA tricnidria or htxandria or iriadel- 



phia ! 



It has been called Sweet-fern, owing to its singular 

 leaves, similar to the Spleenwort fern, and having a 

 pleasant spicy scent. It blossoms very early in March 

 and April, before the leaves are unfolded. 



Linnaeus had united it to Liquidamhar or the sweet 

 gum tree, and Gronovius before him to Myrica or wax 

 shrub, which have a similar inflorescence. 



Locality — From New England to Carolina^ on 

 hills and alluvial plains, in poor, locky and sandy 

 soils, forming vast glades in thin woods. Common 



Jboth on the Allegheny mountains and the plains of 



or 



