APETAL^ 251 



free or united at the base. The anthers are fixed by 

 the base, and open outwards. The female flowers 

 have the parts in twos to fours, and have two to four 

 bracteoles. The ovary is stalkless, one-celled. The 

 two styles are lateral, slender, sometimes with two 

 wings, being attached to the bracteoles which are 

 enlarged. The fruit is a nut or stone or drupe, with 

 an exocarp with a waxy secretion, one-seeded. The 

 seeds are erect, without endosperm. 



The flowers are wind-pollinated. 



The nut may be dispersed by birds. 



This group includes several species, which yield a 

 wax obtained by boiling the fruit. Resin, benzoic 

 acid, and tannin are also yielded by the members of 

 this group. The plants are aromatic and fragrant. 



The group approaches Elaeagnacese or Hippophse 

 in the two-lobed female perianth and drupe-like nut. 



Sweet-Gale {Myrica Gale), 



The first Latin name was given by Theophrastus, 

 being the Greek name for the Tamarisk. Gale, 

 applied by Bauhin, is of doubtful origin. It maybe 

 from the Dutch gazel, fire-wood. In Scotland the 

 plant is called Gall or Gall Bush. Gerard called 

 it the English Sweet Willow or Gaule. It was the 

 Myrtus brabantica of Dodonaeus and Gerard. 



The Bog-Myrtle (another name for this plant), is 

 found generally in the British Isles, and in the 

 Highlands occurs at an altitude of 1800 ft. It is 

 rare in south and east England. 



