OEDEE XCTTn. LACEACE.E LAUEEL-TEIBE. OEDEE Cltl. TJIMACEM ELM-TEIBE. 



193 



last, more common In the Northern districts. The lower leaves are often a 

 foot long, and 8' t' broad. July. 



1 1 Leaves more or lets cordate at base, 



3. R. obtusifolius. Broad-leaved Dock. 



Stem erect, stoat, somewhat rough, branching; lower leaves ovate, obtuse, 

 cordato at base, waved and crenate on tho margin, slightly hairy on the veins 

 beneath ; upper ones oblong-lanceolate, acute ; flowers in loose, distant whorls, 

 forming long, nearly naked racemes ; valves sharply toothed at base, usually 

 only one of them bearing a granule. A common and troublesome weed in 

 waste and cultivated grounds. The root leaves are very large, often with red 

 veins and stalks. Stem 2 I ft high. July. 



4. R. crispus. Yellow Dock. 



Smooth ; stem erect, branching ; leaves lanceolate, acute, strongly waved on 

 the margin ; lower ones rounded or cordato at base ; flowers in numerous 

 whorls, arranged In crowded racemes, Interrupted below, leafless above, forming 

 a large, terminal panicle; valvee broad-cordate, nearly entire at base, all usually 

 bearing granules. Boot yellow, spindle-shaped. A troublesome weed In culti- 

 vated grounds. Stem 2 8 ft high. June July. Per. 



* * Flowers dictcimu. Inner sepalt without granule!. 



5. R. acetos^lla. Sheep Sorrel. 



Stem erect, leafy, branching; leaves lanceolate-hastate; upper ones lanceo- 

 late; all entire, petiolate, very acid to the taste; flowers small, greenish at first 

 but soon tinged with a dull red. In slender, leafless racemes, forming a terminal 

 panicle ; anthers of tho barren flowers yellow ; valves ovate. A common weed, 

 y 8' high, In dry, sandy soils. Its acid leaves are well known. May Oct. 

 Per. 



ORDER XCVIII. Lauracese. Laurel-tribe. 



1. SASSAFRAS. 



Flowers dioecious. Calyx spreading, colored, 6-parted. Bar- 

 ren flowers with 9 stamens, in 3 rows; inner row with n pair of 

 |if-lii'i'llate glands at base of each stamen. Anthers opening by 

 4 valve. Fertile flowers with 6 short, rudimentary stamens. 

 Style filiform. Ovary ovoid, 1-sceded. Treet. 



1. S. officinale. Sassafras. 



Leaves ovate, entire, or 8-lobed, and Uporlng at base, alternate, peUolate, 

 mucilaginous, as also the young shoots covered when younz, as also the buds, 

 with a soft, silky down ; flowers greenish-yellow, in pedunculate clusters, ap- 

 pearing before tho leaves ; drupes dark blue, on a red stalk. A common, small 

 1 40 ft high, distinguished by the spicy flavor of its Inner bark, espe- 

 cially that of the root Woodland*. April May. 



2. BENZ6IN. 



Flowers diceciously polygamous. Calyx 6-parted, open. 

 f-rile flowers with 9 stamens in 3 rows; the 3 inner ones with 

 a pair of opposite, pedicellate glands at base. Anthers 2-eelled. 

 2-vnlvfil. Fertile flowers with 15 18 rudimentary stamens. 

 Ovary globular. Drupe obovoid, 1-seeded. 



1. B. odoriferum. Spice-busk. 



Leaves oblong-obovat, entire, sessile, wedge-shaped at base, thin, paler 

 beneath, nearly smooth ; flowers greenish-yellow, In compound, nearly sessile 

 elnsCers, appearing before the leaves ; pedicels scarcely as long as the flowers ; 

 calyx-teeth oblong; berries red. A shrub, 5 12 ft high. In moist woods. 

 The bark of the young branches ha* a pleasant aromatic flavor, resembling 

 that of gum Benzoin. April. 



ORDER XCIX. 



Thymelaceae. Mezereum- 

 family. 



1. DlKCA. 



Calyx petaloid, tubular, truncate ; margin waved, or obscure- 

 ly 4-|ol,,.,l. stamens 8, long and slender, inserted in the calyx- 

 tubo, mnch cxscrt; alternate ones longer. Style filiform. Stig 

 ma capitate. Drupe oval, l-se>-<!<"]. 



25 



1. D. paliistris. 



Leather-wood. 



Shrubby; stem very branching; leaves oblong-obovate or obovate, entire, 

 alternate, on short petioles, paler beneath ; flowers appearing before tho leaves, 

 pale yellow, rather small, funnel-form, 2 3 together, projecting from an invo- 

 lucre consisting of large, brownish, hairy scales ; barry oval, small, reddish. A 

 low shrub of irregular, straggling growth, 3 G ft high; most common in 

 Northern N. Eng. and N. York, distinguished by the yellow flowers appearing 

 long before the leaves, and its extremely tough, grayish bark. April May. 



2. DAPHNE. 



Calyx 4-cleft, withering; limb spreading. Stamens 8, in- 

 cluded in the calyx-tube. Style 1. Drupe 1-seeded. Shrubs. 



1. D. Mezereum. Mezereum. 



Leaves deciduous, lanceolate, entire, sessile, in terminal tufts ; flowers ses- 

 sile, In clusters of 8 I, proceeding from the lateral buds ; calyx salver-form, 

 with ovate, spreading segments ; stamens Inserted In 2 rows near the top of the 

 tube, with short filaments; stigma sessile. A very beautiful exotic shrub, 

 whose pink flowers appear in great profusion as early as March. The bark, 

 and other parts, are extremely acrid. Stem 18 ft high. 



2. D. Laureola. 



Spurge Laurel. 



Leaves evergreen, lanceolate, smooth, acute, entire, nearly sessile ; flowers 

 in clusters of about 5, proceeding from the lateral buds, greenish-yellow, fra- 

 grant A handsome species, 4 5 ft high, with fragrant flowers, and elegant, 

 evergreen foliage. March April. 



ORDER CI. 



Santa! acese. Sandal-ivood- 

 family. 



1. COMANDRA. 



Flowers perfect. Calyx somewhat urceolate ; limb 4 5-part- 

 ed, with an adherent, 6-fobed disk. Stamens 45, opposite the 

 calyx-lobes, inserted on the disk alternately with its lobes. 

 Fruit dry, 1-scedcd, crowned with the persistent calyx-lobes. 



1. C. umbellata. 



False Toad-flax. 



Yery smooth ; stem erect, slender, branching above ; leaves oblong or ob- 

 long-obovate, entire, alternate ; flowers small, greenish-white, in small clustered 

 umbels of 8 5, forming a kind of terminal corymb, each cluster with 4 decidu- 

 ous bracts; anthers connected with the opposite calyx-lobes by several yellow 

 threads. A low, smooth herb, 6' 12' high ; common in dry and rocky grounds. 

 June. Per. , 



8. NYS9A. 



Flowers difficious-polygamous. Barren flowers calyx 6- 

 parted ; stamens 6 10, inserted on a glandular disk. Perfect, 

 or fertile flowers calyx 5-parted ; tube adherent to the ovary ; 

 stamens 5, perfect or rudimentary; fruit an oval, berry-like 

 drupe. Nut l-*eeded. Treet, 



1. N. multiflura. Gum-tree. 



Leaves oval or obovate, acute at both ends, entire, hairy on the petiole and 

 mid-vein, of a thick and firm consistence, and a deep and shining green ; flow- 

 ers greenish, small, in 8 6-flowered clusters, on long, branching peduncles; 

 fertile peduncles mostly 8-flowcred ; drupes oval, deep blue. A common tree 

 of middling size, growing in swamps and low grounds, distinguished by the 

 thick, shining leaves and horizontal branches. Tho wood Is tough and white 

 and almost impossible to split June. 



ORDER GUI. Ulmacese. Elm-tribe. 



1. tTLMTJS. 



Flowers perfect, rarely polygamous. Calyx campanulatc, 4 

 9-cleft Stamens 4 9. Filaments filiform. Styles 2. Ovaries 

 flat, compressed. Fruit a flat samara with a winged margin, by 

 abortion 1-celled, 1-seeded. Trect. 



1. U. Americana. Elm. 



Yonng branches nearly smooth ; leaves oblong-obovatc, acuminate, doubly 

 serrate, smooth above, pubescent beneath, oblique, rounded or cordate at bale. 



