N. ORD.-MYRICACEZ:. | 160 
GENUS.—MYRICA,* LINN. 
SEX. SYST.—DICECIA TETRANDRIA. 
MYRICA., 
BAYBERRY. 
SYN.—MYRICA CERIFERA, LINN. 
COM. NAMES.—BAYBERRY, WAX MYRTLE, CANDLE-BERRY, TALLOW 
SHRUB; (FR.) ARBRE A SUIF; (GER.) WACHSBUSCH, WACHSGAGLE. 
A TINCTURE OF THE FRESH ROOT BARK OF MYRICA CERIFERA, LINN. 
Description.—This somewhat fragrant shrub attains a growth of from 3 to 8 
feet. ranches numerous, especially at the summit of the plant; dranchlets pubes- 
cent. Leaves somewhat preceding the flowers; they are oblong- or cuneate- 
lanceolate, narrowing at the base, shining or resinous dotted on both sides and 
pubescent underneath; apex obtuse; margin entire, or with a few wavy or short, 
sharp serratures near the apex. /n/florescence dicecious, amentaceous, solitary, from 
under the axillary scale-buds of the previous years’ leaves; flowers destitute of calyx 
or corolla, and furnished with a pair of wedge-shaped naked bractlets. Sverz/e cat- 
kins oblong or cylindrical; dracts rhombic; stamens 2 to 8, usually 4, longer than the 
bracts ;_f7/aments somewhat united below; anthers large, 2-celled. Fertile catkins 
ovoid, smaller than the sterile; ovavy furnished with 2 to 4, usually 3, ciliate, 
rounded, obscurely 3-lobed scales at its base; s#gmas 2, thread-like. Fyruzt 
scattered groups of small, globular, bony, and naked nutlets, having numerous © 
minute black grains upon its surface that are incrusted with wax. 
Myricacew.—A small family of moncecious or dicecious shrubs or small trees, 
found in both Americas, India, Cape of Good Hope, and one species in Europe. 
Leaves alternate, simple, resinous dotted, and often fragrant; stzpu/es present or 
absent. /zflorescence, both kinds in short scaly aments; zzvolucre none. Flowers 
destitute of both calyx and corolla; fertile catkins in an ovoid or cylindrical head ; 
ovary 1-celled, situated in the axil of a bract, and surrounded at the base by several 
hypogynous scales; ovu/e single, erect, orthotropous; sty/es 2, filiform, subulate, 
or dilated and petaloid. Sveri/e catkins with 2 to 10 stamens in the axil of a 
squamous bract; filaments free or partly united; anthers 2- to 4-celled ; dehiscence 
longitudinal, /?ruz¢ a dry, drupaceous, indehiscent nut; albumen none; Pi aamadead c 
sarcous ; vadic/e short, superior. 
* Mupo, myro, to flow, as the plant grows near water. The ancient name of the Tamarisk, Hype, myrite, ues ONS 
prpse, myrizo, to eee does not apply. 
