324 BETULACE^E. 



without albumen. Shrubs or small trees, with alternate leaves 

 which are covered with resinous glands and dots. 



1. MYRICA. Linn. Candlebeny Myrtle. 

 (From the Greek /*vpu>7, synonymous with the Tamarix. Hook. Brit. Fl.) 



Dioecious. STERILE FL. Ament cylindric ; scales concave. 

 Stamens 4 6. FERTILE FL. Ament closely imbricate, small, 

 ovoid. Styles 2. Drupe 1 -celled, 1 -seeded. 



1. M. gale Linn.: leaves cuneate-lanceolate, serrate at the apex, ob- 

 tuse ; sterile aments imbricate ; scales acuminate, ciliate ; fruit in imbri- 

 cate heads. 



Bogs and mountain lakes. Can. to Penn. April, May. fy- Stem 4 5 feet 

 high, branching. Leaves alternate, somewhat coriaceous. Fruit with a strong 

 penetrating spicy scent. The leaves have a bitter taste and are sometimes em- 

 ployed as a substitute for hops. Hook. Sweet Gale. Dutch Myrtle. 



2. M. cerifera Linn. : leaves cuneate-lanceolate, with a few serratures 

 near the summit, acute ; sterile aments loose ; scales acute ; fruit globular, 

 naked. M. Caroliniensis and Pennsylvania Pursh. 



Shady woods. N. Eng. to Flor. May, June. T7. Stem 2 8, but some- 

 times, (especially at the South,) 10 18, feet high, diffusely spreading. Leaves 

 varying in width, sometimes entire, somewhat pubescent. Fruit small, dry and 

 juiceless, but by boiling, a wax of very pleasant flavor is extracted from it, 

 which is used for making candles, &c. Rig. Med. Hot. iii. 



Bayberry. Wax Myrtle. 



2. COMPTONIA. Gcert. Sweet Fern. 



(In honor of Henry Compton, a Bishop of London of the last century, who was 

 a patron of botany.) 



Monoecious. STERILE FL. Ament cylindric, imbricate ; scales 

 reniform-cordate, acuminate, 1 -flowered. Berianth of 2 minute 

 scarious leaves. Stamens 3- 5. FERTILE FL. Ament glo- 

 bose; scales 1 -flowered. Styles 2. Nut ovoid-oblong, smooth. 



C. aspknifolia Ait. Liquidambar aspknifolium Linn. 



Woods. Can. to Geor. April, May. T^. Stem 24 feet high, much 

 branched. Leaves linear-lanceolate, cut almost to the midrib into numerous 

 roundish lobes. Flowers in oval sessile aments. Nuts forming a round burr. 

 The whole plant, when rubbed, has a strong and somewhat fragrant scent. It 

 is a popular remedy in Dysentery. Sweet Fern 



ORDER CXVII. BETULACE^E. BIRCHES. 



Flowers monoecious, in aments, with small scales which are 

 sometimes arranged in a whorl. STERILE FL. Stamens 4, dis 

 tinct, opposite the scales ; anthers 2 -celled. FERTILE FL. 

 Ovary free ; styles single or none ; stigmas 2. Fruit thin, in- 

 dehiscent, 1-celled, combined with the scales i:: o ;i sort of 



