OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES 359 



of the first year's growth are somewhat intermediate in nature with 

 those of M. cerifera and M. Carolinensis. They are of a greenish to 

 reddish-brown color, more thin hairy than those of M. cerifera, somewhat 

 less hairy than those of M. Carolinensis, but showing numerous yellow 

 and a few orange-red glands. Upon them appear the buds of next sea- 

 son's leaves and flowers. The branchlets of two years' growth are dull 

 reddish-brown, and devoid of thin hairs but possess a few golden-yellow 

 glands. Lenticels are present which vary from .5 to .7 mm. in length 

 and are arranged longitudinally. Alike with similar branchlets of M. 

 cerifera and M. Carolinensis, staminate or pistillate flowers are borne 

 on special catkin axes which, in the case of the pistillate, persist for a 

 long time after the fruits have fallen. The writer observed these also 

 present on stems of the 3d, 4th and 5th year's growth at Wildwood, 

 January 31, 1915 (Plate 85, Fig. 13). The older stems are brownish 

 gray to ash gray in color and have numerous circular to oval somewhat 

 raised lenticels, arranged both longitudinally and transversely and vary- 

 ing from .5 to 1.5 mm. in length. The underground stem creeps through 

 the soil for long distances and gives off numerous branches which are 

 similar in their habit to those of M. cerifera and M. Carolinensis. 



Myrica Gale, L. 

 A dark looking shrub rising to the height of from .4 to 2 m. and 

 dividing into several slender branches which in turn divide and redivade 

 in furchate manner. The recent shoots are of a rich dark purple color, 

 polished and shining and bear numerous thin white hairs and yellow 

 glands which are most numerous toward their summit. The lenticels 

 on these shoots are relatively few, of a white color, and circular m shape 

 havmg a diameter of . 25 mm. The branchlets of second year's growth are 

 also dark purple, showing polished and shining circular to oval, whitish 

 lenticels, which vary in diameter or length from .35 to .5 mm. The older 

 branchlets and branches are reddish brown in color and usually polished. 

 They show elevated, transversely-elongated lenticels which vary from 

 .5 to 2 mm. in length. On the main and lowest aerial stem the outer 

 bark cracks and rolls horizontally becoming rough, but still is somewhat 

 shiny. Special branches are developed on the young shoots which bear 

 the catkins. These die after the descent of the pollen. The rhizome 

 creeps through the soil for long distances and bears numerous lateral 

 branches and suckers. The latter are reddish to reddish-purple in color 

 and bear thick pink to pinkish-white scales. 



