THYMELACE.iE. 330 DIRCA. 



2. NYSSA. 

 Flowers dioecious-polygamous. Sterile JI. — Calyx 5-partecl ; 

 stamens 5 — 10, inserted around a glandular disk; pistil 0. 

 Fertile fi. — Calyx S-parted; stamens 5 or ; pistil 1 \ drupe 

 inferior; nut 1-seeded. 



The name of a nymph, according to Linnsrus. Trees. 



1. N. multiflo'ra. Wait. N. Villoaa. Mx. 

 Leaves oblong, obovate, very entire, acute at each end, the petiole, midrib 



and margin villous; fertile peduncles '.'> — 6-flowered ; ?i:it short, obovate, 

 obtuse, striate. This tree is disseminated throughout the U. S. In swamps 

 it is found 139 — 50 feet high, the trunk 1 — Hfoot in diameter, with horizontal 

 branches forming a pyramidal summit. The bark is light gray, similar to 

 that of the white oak. Leaves tough and firm, 2 — 5 inches long, and ^ as 

 wide. Flowers small, greenish, in small clusters on a long, branching pedun- 

 cle, the fertile ones succeeded by a ievf deep blue, oblong drupes. The wood 

 is white, fine-grained, rather soft, the texture consisting of interwoven bundles 

 of fibres, rendering it very difficult to split. It is therefore useful for beetles, 

 naves of wheels, hatters' blocks, &c. Jn. Pcpperidge. Tulcpo. Sour Gum. 



2. N. BIFLo'ra. Walt. N. aquatica. L. 

 Leaves oblong-ovate, entire, acute at both ends, smooth ; fertile ■peduncles 



2-flowered; drupe short, obovate; nut striate. This tree grows in swamps, 

 in certain sections of the Northern and Middle States. The trunk when full 

 grown is 30 — 50 feet high and 15 — 20 inches in diameter, the bark divided by 

 deep furrows into hexagons. Leaves alternate, smooth, 2 — 4 inches in length. 

 Flowers small and obscure, the fertile ones producing a fruit of a deep blue 

 ci)lor, growing iti pairs on a common stalk which is shorter than the leaves. 

 The wood is dark brown, similar in quality and uses to the last. June. 



JVaier Tulcpo or Gum Tree. 



ORDER CXVI. TFIYIVIELACE^. Ue Mezcreum Trihe. 



Ca/. — Frt'O. t:ibiilar, colored, limb 4 (rarely 5)-cIeft, imbricr'.ted in ,'cstivalion. 

 Sla.—Vrt\m\i-. inserted into tlie calyx and opposite to its lobes when equal to them in 



nunilicr; i.iten twice as many. 

 Orn. — Si'litr.ry, willi 1 ovnlp. Style 1. Stigma undivided. 

 Fr. — Hard, ilry, (i;ii|i;ic. imi-^. Albumen onhin. 



Slirul's, wiih :i v: I) t! -.iirious bark. Leaves alternn,te or opposite, entire. Flowers 

 perfect. The species are very abundant in Australasia and f'. AiVica, sparingly dissemi- 

 nated in Europe and Asia. The only North American ^rcnus is that which follows. 



Properties. The bark is acrid and caustic, raising blisters upon the skin. It is composed 

 of interlaced fibres which are extremely toug-h, but easily separable. The laco-bark tree 

 (Lagetla) of Jamaica is particularly remarkable for this property. 



DIRCA. 



Calyx colored, tubular, with an ohsolete limb; stamens S; 

 unequal, lonirer than, and inserted into, the tube; style 1 ; 

 berry 1-sccded. 



Gr. ^igx-a, a fountain ; the shrub grows in wet places. Lvs. alternate, 

 simple. Fls. expanding before the leaves. 



D. PALU'STRIS. 



Leaves oblong-ovate or obovate ; finwers axillary, 2 — J in a hairy, bud-like 

 involucre. A shrub, 5 feet in hight, when full grown. Tiie fiov«ers appear 



