lalTwVCEjE. (laurcl family.) 393 



OuDKK 111. LAURACE^. (Laurel Family.) 



Aromatic trees or slinibs (except Cassyta), with alternate simple mi- 

 nutely dotted leaves, without stipules, and perfect or polygamous clustered 

 flowers. — Calyx C - 9-partcd, imbricated in 2 rows. Stamens G or more, 

 in 1 - 4 rows : anthers adiiate, 2 - 4-cellcd, opening by lid-like valves. 

 Ovary free, 1 -celled, with a solitary anatropous suspended ovule. Stylo 

 simple, thick : stigma obtuse. Fruit a drupe or berry. Seed without 

 albumen. Embryo large. Radicle superior. 



Synopsis. 



Teibe I. L.\URIXE/'E. Fruit naked- — Trees or shrubs. 



« Flowers" perfect. Stamens 12, the 3 inner ones sterile. 



1. P£IISE.\. Anthers 4-celled, 4-valved. Trees with evergreen leaTes. 



* • Flowers dioecious. Stamens 9, all fertile. 



2. SASSAFRAS. Involucre none. Anthers 4-celled. 



3. BENZOIN. Involucre 4-lcaved. Anthers 2-celled. 



4. TETRANTIIEilA. Involucre 2- 4-leaTed. Anthers 4celled. 



Tribe II. CASSYTE!.^. Fruit enclosed in the fleshy calyx. — Leafless twining par- 

 asites. 

 5 CASSYl'A. Flowers perfect. Stamens 9. Anthers 2-celled. 



1. PERSEA, Ga;rtn. Red-Bay. 



Flowers perfect. Calyx deeply 6-parted, persistent. Stamens 12, in 4 rows, 

 the inner ones sterile and gland-like. Filaments pubescent, the inner fjrtilo 

 ones biglanduhir. Anthers 4-cellcd, those of the two outer rows introrsc, of tho 

 inner row cxtrorsc. Stigma disk-like. Drupe ovoid. — Trees or shrubs, with 

 evergreen entire jjetiolcd leaves, and greenish or white flowers, in a.\illai-y pc- 

 duncled clusters or panicles. 



1 . P. Carolinensis, Xecs. Branchlets smoothish ; leaves oblong or lance- 

 olate-oblong, smooth and deep green above, glaucous beneath, obscurely veined ; 

 flowers silky, in cymose clusters, on peduncles shorter than the petioles ; calyx- 

 lobes unequal, persistent; drupe blue. (Laurus Carolinensis, L.) — Rich shady 

 woods, Florida to Nortli Carohna. July. — A tree 20° -40° high. Leaves 2'- 

 3' long. 



Var palustris. Shrubby; the branchlets, lower surface of the leaves, and 

 flowers densely tomcntosc ; leaves strongly veined, pale green, varying from 

 oval to lanceolate; peduncles longer than the petioles. — Ponds and pine-barren 

 s<vamps. July. — Shrub 4° - 10° high. Leaves 3' -6' long. Flowers larger 

 than the preceding form. 



2. P. Catesbyana. Smooth ; leaves lanceolate-ohlong, acute or obtuse, 

 reticulate, shining, on short margined petioles; flowers minute, in narrow axillary 

 panicles which are commonly shorter than the leaves ; ealvx white, pubescent 

 within, the nearly equal lobes deciduous ; filaments very short, the innermost 



