190 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



usually with a few sharp teeth towards the apex. Male catkins in 

 subdistichous racemes, from buds formed in summer in the axils of 

 the leaves, opening in the succeeding spring before the leaf-buds begin 

 to expand, erect, I to f inch long : catkin-scales broadly ovate-rhomlDic, 

 acute, concave, brown with pale margins: anthers reddish; pollen 

 very abundant, pale yellow. Catkins of the female plant formed in 

 summer as in the male plant, but a little later in expanding in the 

 follo^ving spiing, ovoid, | inch long in flower: catkin-scales reddish- 

 brown: styles protruded, crimson. Drupes about the size of rape- 

 seed, in catkins not more than i to ^ inch long, greenish yellow, pointed 

 and margined, enclosed at the base in the persistent floral-scales, which 

 are sprinkled with small resinous dots. Leaves rather dull green above, 

 paler and yellower beneath, subglabrous or (as well as the branches of 

 tlie year) thinly sprinkled with short hairs ; young branches and leaves 

 sprinkled with minute dots of yellow fragrant resin. 



Bog Myrtle. 



French, Mijrica gale. German, Gemeiuer Gagel. 



This is a low-growing shrub, with small leaves, clothed over with whitish resinous 

 glands, and having a very fragrant odour. It is abundant on the northern moors, and 

 in otlier parts of the island. It seldom rises more than two feet in height ; but forms 

 very close dense tufts, which are the favourite shelter of various birds, and likewise 

 of the viper. 



The whole plant is aromatic. The leaves are sometimes used to flavour beer, as an 

 agreeable substitute for hops. They are hkewise employed to give a pleasant scent 

 to clothes, and to keep away vei'min. In Wales the cottagers lay the branches where 

 they will be obnoxious to fleas, the odour being so hateful to these insects that a witty 

 tourist declares the myrica to be the genuine " traveller's joy." A strong decoction 

 of the tops is given to children to destroy worms, and it is likewise used as a poison 

 for fleas. An infusion of the tops is used for tanning calf-skins, and as a yellow dye. 

 The berries partake of the aromatic qualities of the leaves, and are employed in 

 France as a spice. They are supposed, however, to give a narcotic quahty to beer in 

 which they have been infused. By distillation they yield a very fragrant essential 

 oil. Upon the surface of the catkins is a peculiar wax-like secretion, Avhich may be 

 separated by immersing them in boiling water. It possesses all the properties of true 

 wax, and like that obtained from another species, M. cerifera, the " Candleberry 

 Myrtle," growing in New Brunswick, may be employed for candle-making. Candles 

 made from the foreign species have been exhibited in the Great Exhibitions of 1851 

 and 1862. Though the stems of the bog myrtle arc too small to be of any other 

 economic value, they furnish good fuel, and were used in Gerard's time by the people 

 of the Isle of Ely to heat their ovens. In Wales, too, it is gathered for fuel, and 

 while burning reminds us of the poet's words, 



" Gale from the bogs shall waft Arabian balm." 



Sub-Order IY SALICINEiE. 



Leaves alternate (rarely a few of the opposite), simple, undivided, 

 pinnately or ixilmately veined. Stipules mostly persistent and herba- 



