MYRICACK.K, BETULACEA 135 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1. Myri'ca. Flowers chiefly dioecious, catkins lateral, each bract with a pair 



of bractlets underneath. Stamens in the sterile flowers 2-8. Ovary soli- 

 tary in the fertile flowers, 1-celled, tipped with 2 thread-like stigmas, and 

 surrounded by 2-4 small scales at the base. In our species the 2 scales 

 form wings at the base of the nut. A shrub, 3-5 feet high. 



2. Compto'nia. A low shrub, a foot or more in height, with fern-like very 



sweet-scented leaves. Flowers monoecious. Sterile catkins cylindrical. 

 Fertile ones spherical, the ovary surrounded by 8 awl-shaped persistent 

 scales, so that the catkin resembles a bur. 



1. MYRI'CA, L. BAYBEBBY. WAX-MYBTLE. 



M. Gale, L. (SWEET GALE. ) Leaves wedge-lanceolate, serrate 

 towards the apex, pale. The small nuts in crowded heads, and 

 winged by the 2 scales. Bogs. 



2. COMPTO'lVIA, Solander. SWEET-FEBN. 



C. asplenifolia, Ait. (Myrica asplenifolia, Endl., in Macoun's 

 Catalogue. ) Leaves linear-lanceolate in outline, deeply pinnatifid, 

 the lobes numerous and rounded. Dry soil; especially in Pine 

 barrens. 



ORDER LXXXVII. BETULA'CEJS. (BIRCH FAMILY.) 



Trees or shrubs with monoecious flowers, both sorts in catkins, 

 2 or 3 flowers under each scale or bract of the catkin. Ovary 

 2-celled and 2-ovuled, but in fruit only 1-celled and 1 -seeded. 

 Fruit a small nut. Stigmas 2, long and slender. Twigs and 

 leaves often aromatic. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 



1. Bet'ula. Sterile catkins long and pendulous, formed during summer and 



expanding the following spring ; each flower consisting of one small scale 

 to which is attached 4 short filaments ; 3 flowers under each scale of the 

 catkin. Fertile catkins stout, oblong, the scales or bracts 3-lobed and 

 with 2 or 3 flowers under each ; each flower a naked ovary, becoming a 

 winged nutlet in fruit. Bark easily coming off in sheets. 



2. Alnus. Catkins much as in Betula, but each fertile and sterile flower has 



a distinct 3-5 parted calyx. Catkins solitary or clustered at the ends of 

 leafless branchlets or peduncles. Nutlets wingless or nearly so. 



(These two genera are included in Cupulifcrae in 3Iacoun'g Catalogue.) 



