394 LAURACK.K. (laurel FAMILY.) 



bearded at the apex ; drupe black. (Laurus Catesbyana, ^fichx.) — South Flor- 

 ida, — Shrub 6° - 9° high. Leaves 3' - 5' long. Fruitiug pedicels club-shaped. 



2. SASSAFRAS, Nees. 



Involnore none. Flowers dioeciously polygamous. Calyx 6-partC(l, pprcad- 

 ing. Stamens of the sterile flowers 9, in 3 rows, all fertile, the 3 inner ones 

 biglandular at the base ; those of the fertile flowers 6, sterile : anthers linear, 

 4-celled, 4-valved, introrse. Style subulate : stigma disk-like. Drujjcs blue, on 

 thick red pedicels. — Trees, with entire or 2 - 3-lobed deciduous leaves, and 

 greenish flowers in clustered racemes, appearing before the leaves. 



1. S. oflB^cinale, Nees. Leaves ovate, entire or 2 - 3-lobcd, smooth or 

 pubescent; racemes short, silky ; flowers sometimes white. (Laurus Sassafras, 

 L.) — Dry open woods and old fields, Florida, and northward. March. — A 

 small tree, with spicy bark. 



3. BENZOIN, Nees. Spice-Bush. 



Involucre 4-leaved. Flowers dia'ciousiy polygamous. Calyx 6-parted. Sta- 

 mens of the sterile flowers 9 (more numerous and rudimentary in the fertile 

 flowers), in 3 rows : filaments slender, the inner ones lobed and glandular at the 

 base : anthers ovate, 2-celled, 2-valvcd, introrse. Style short. Drui)e obovoid, 

 red, the pedicels not thickened. — Shrubs, with entire deciduous leaves, and dull 

 yellow flowers in lateral sessile clusters, appearing before the leaves. 



1 • B. odoriferum, Nees. Branches slender, smooth ; leaves oblong-obo- 

 vate, acute at tlie liase, paler and pubescent beneath, soon smooth ; clusters 

 numerous, smooth. (Launis Benzoin, L ) — Banks of streams and low woods, 

 Florida, and northwaril. Feb. and March. — A shrub 6°- 10° high, with spicy 

 bark. Leaves 3' - 5' long. 



2. B. melisssefoliuin, Nees. Leaves oblong, short-petioled, obtuse or 

 slightly cordate at tiie base, silky on both sides, as also the brancldets and 

 clusters, at length smooth above ; drupes obovoid. (Laurus mclissa^folia, 

 Walt.) — Murgins of ponds, West Florida to North Carolina. Feb. aud March. 

 — A sliiub 2° -3° higli. Leaves l'-2' long. 



4. TETRANTHERA, Jacq. 



Involucre 2 -4-leaved. Flowers dicecious. Calyx G-parted, deciduous. Sta- 

 mens of the sterile flowers 9, in 3 rows; those of the fertile flowers numerous 

 and rudimentary : anthers 4-celled, 4-valved, introrse. Stigma peltate. l)rui)e 

 gloljosc. — Trees or shrubs, with entire leaves, and small flowers in clustered 

 umbels. 



1. T. gcniculata, Nees. Branchlets smooth, zigzag, s|)rcading ; leaves 

 'small, oval or oblong, soon smooth, deciduous ; involucre 2 -4-tlowercd ; flowers 

 yellow, appcarintr before the leaves ; drupe red. (Ijaurus gcniculata, Wult.) — 

 ■Shallow pine-barren ponds, Florida, and norlliward. Feb. and March. — A 



