650 Order 121.— MTRICACB^E. 



kmcmlaie; fertilo aments oval. — Not uncommon along streams, N. Eng. to "Wis. 

 and Can. A tall shrub or small tree, readily distinguishable by the form and 

 pubescence of the leaves. (A. glauca Mi.) 



2 A. serrulata Willd. Smooth Alder. Lvs obovate, acuminate, doubly serru- 

 late, smooth beneath, except the veins and their axils ; stip. elliptical, obtuse. — A 

 well known shrub growing in clumps, and forming thickets ou the borders of 

 ponds and rivers, and in swamps. Stems numerous, rather straight, 10— 15f in 

 height. Leaves 2 — 4' long and f as wide, strongly veined ; petioles ^ — \' long. 

 Aments 2 — 3' long, slender, pendulous, fascicled at the ends of the branches ; 

 fertile ones short, thick, dark brown, persistent, several together a little below tb.8 

 sterile one. Mar., Apr. (A. rubra Tuckerman.) 



3 A. vfridis DC. Mountain Alder. Lvs. oval, acute, obtusish at base, doubly 

 serrate, clothed with a soft viscid pubescence, or subglabrous, villous on the veiua 

 and axils beneath : stip. broadly ovate ; fertile aments on long peduncles, oval. — 

 High mountain streams, N. Eng. N. Y. and Can. An elegant shrub, 3— 4f high. 

 Leaves varying to broad-ovate, rarely cordate, nearly smooth in the alpine state, 

 otherwise softly pubescent and sprinkled with resinous particles. Apr. (A. 

 crispa Mx.) 



Order CXXI. MYEICACEJS. Galbworts. 



Shrubs with alternate, resinous-dotted, often fragrant leaves, with the jloiaers 

 monoecious or dioecious, achlamydeous, both kinds in scaly aments. $ Stamens 2 

 to 8. 2 Ovary 1 -celled, with 1 erect ovule; stigmas 2, filiform. Fruit dry or dru- 

 paceous, indehiscent. Seed with no albumen. 



Genera ", specie* 20, found In the temperate parts of N. America, in India and S. Africa, an(f 

 one species in Ktiropo. Sweet Fern is highly aromatic and astringent. The fruit of tho Bay- 

 b&rry bush yields wax abundantly. 



i. MYRFCA, L. Candleberry Myrtle. (Gr. fivpi£h), to perfume.,. 

 The name anciently obsignated the Tamarind tree.) Flowers- $ ? . — 

 Aments $ cylindrical, £ small, ovoid-eapitate. $ Stamens 4 to 6, 

 nhort, erect, anthers large, 4-valved, $ Ovary 1 to each bract, with 3 

 scales at its base, superior ; styles 2, spreading ; stigmas 2, acute ; drupe 

 1-celled, 1-seeded, covered with wax or resinous dots. Stip. very fuga- 

 cious or 0. 



1 M. Gale L. Sweet Gale. Dutch Mtrtle. Lvs. clustered, cuneate-lanceolate, 

 obtuse and serrate above, margin very entire and slightly revolute below, tapering 

 to a very short petiole ; sterile aments clustered, of ovate, cordate, acuminate, ciliato 

 scales ; fr. dotted in an oblong, dense, amentaceous head. — A branching shrub, 

 3 — 4f high, on tho inundated borders of ponds and mountain lakes, Can. to Car. 

 Leaves dark green, paler beneath with a strong midvein, 9 — 18" by 4 — 6", entire 

 ^ the length. $ and $ aments on separate plants, the former terminal, about 1' 

 in length, the latter axillary and much shorter. Fruit and leaves when crushed, 

 with a pungent, spicy odor. May. 



2 M. cerffera L. Bayberry. "Wax Myrtle. Lvs. glabrous, cuneate-oblong T 

 rather acuto or obtuse, distinctly petiolate, margin entiro or remotely undulate- 

 dentato above; aments cotemporary with tho leaves, scattered, naked, tho $ 

 larger, with lax, roundish scales; fr. spherical, distinct, clustered, covered witJt 

 wax. — This interesting and useful shrub is found in dry woods or in open fields, 

 Nova Scotia to Flor., "W. to Lake Erie. Height 2 — Sf, covered with a grayish 

 bark. Yery branching with numerous dry looking leaves, 18 to 30" by 6 to &'*. 

 Aments G to 9" long. Drupe 1J" long, covered with whito wax, — tho baybeny 

 tallow of commerce. May. 



3 M. Carolinensis L. Lvs. larger, evergreen, coriaceous, cuneale-elliptical, acute, 

 ■with about 4 acute teeth near the apex, petiolate ; $ aments solitary or several in 

 tho axils of tho old leaves; $ naked, with rounded, acuminate scales. — Swamps, 

 S. Car. to ria. Shrub 4 to 8f high. Lvs. 3 to 5' by 1 to 2', petiolo 1' or less. 



