OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES 341 



in England in June and July. (Lobel, Stirpium Observationes, 1576, 

 p. 547.) 



In 1586, Dalechamps, in his "Historia generalis Plantarum," p. 110, 

 described and gave illustrations of the same plant which he called Pseu- 

 domyrsine. He observed it in swampy soil bearing fruits in July and 

 August in the neighborhood of Rouen and indicated that it was known 

 by the name of Royal Pimenta. 



In 1616, Rambertus Dodonaeus, in his "Stirpium historia Pemp- 

 tades, " named it Chamelaeagnus and classified it under the group of 

 Arbustes non epineux (trees not thorny) between Rhus Cotinus and 

 Viburnum Lantana. He noticed small drops of resin on the fruit and 

 stated that it was found in Grande-Bretagne, Brabant, Flanders and 

 N. W. France along the Loire. 



In 1640, Parkinson ("Theatrum botanicum," p. 1451) grouped it 

 with the Sumacs and named it Myrtus brabantica atit anglica. He ob- 

 served the plant in Sussex, Hertfordshire and Cornwall, England. To 

 the synonyms already mentioned he added those of Sweet Gale and 

 Sweet Willow. 



In 1650, Jean Bauhin ("Historia Plantarum," p. 503) wrote that the 

 people of France called it Gale after the name given it by Dr. Peter 

 Turnerus. 



About the same time, Quatramius observed it in swampy land around 

 Paris and called it Pigmen, probably after Pigmentarii. 



In 1691, Plukenet in his " Phy tographia " illustrated and briefly 

 described one form, the figure of which, in some respect, resembles the 

 fructiferous branch of Myrica cerifera. The following is his description 

 "Myrtus Brabanticae accedens Africana, baccis carens Conifera. Arbor 

 Conifera odorata foliis Salicis, rigidis, leviter serratis Ray Hist, an Laur, 

 serrata odora Promont. Bon. Spei Bod a Stapel in Theophr. p. 333, ex 

 America quoque nobis allata est et a Nostratib; Insulam Bermudensem 

 vigentibus, Laurus odorata vulgo nominatur, ut ab honestiss viro Jacobo 

 Harlow didicimus. " 



A branch of another plant somewhat resembling Myrica carolinensis 

 he described as Myrtus Brabanticae similis, Carolinensis, baccifera, 

 fructu racemoso, sessile, monopyrene, fructum fert veluti Saccharo 

 candidiss incrustatum, Cujus ramulus cum fructu ut per Microscopium 

 apparuit adpingitur. Hujus pulchri Sane, perravi ei prorsus novi Ar- 

 busculi Americani generis, munificentia illustris viri D. Giilielmi Courtene 

 compos factus sum. 



