anthers, 4 of which are just visible in the throat of the calyx. Their 

 scent, resembling saffron, with an overpowering sweetness, is percep- 

 tible in an evening only, and has been observed by very few people. 

 An oval, concave bract accompanies each short partial stalk, at the 

 base. Berry oval, black. Every part is very acrid, producing like 

 the Mezereutn, a burning heat in the mouth and throat. Smith. 



668. D. Gnidium Linn, sp.pl. 511. Fl. grcec. t. 356 Hills 



and barren plains in the southern parts of Europe. 



A small bush. Leaves linear-lanceolate, clustered, acuminate, cus- 

 pidate, quite smooth. Flowers numerous, small, white, with a fragrant 

 smell, in terminal panicled racemes. Properties like those of Meze- 

 reum. 



LAGETTA. 



Flowers dioecious. Calyx coloured, tubular, quadrifid. Eight 

 setaceous linear scales in the bottom of the calyx. Stamens 8, 

 attached in 2 rows to the tube of the calyx ; filaments very 

 short. Style simple; stigmas 2, capitate. Drupe dry, sur- 

 rounded by the permanent calyx. 



669. L. lintearia Lam. enc. iii. 363. t. 289. Daphne Lagetto 

 Swartz.fl. ind. occ. ii. 680. (Browne jam. t. 31. f. 5. Sloane 

 ii. 22. 1. 168. f. 1-3. 169. f. 1.) High mountains of Jamaica, 

 St. Domingo, Mexico. (Lace Bark.) 



A tree 30 feet high. Leaves alternate, stalked, ovate, or somewhat 

 cordate, acute or acuminate, evergreen, smooth and shining. Calyx 

 white, ventricose, coriaceous, filled with white wool, with a small 4-parted 

 limb. Flowers in smooth, terminal, panicled racemes. The bark 

 possesses properties similar to that of Mezereum j and is used for the 

 same medical purposes. It is remarkable for separating readily into a 

 great number of thin white layers, which being stretched laterally 

 assume the appearance of the finest lace work. It may even be washed 

 with soap like linen. 



DIRCA. 



Calyx campanulate, with an obsolete unequal limb. Fila- 

 ments 8, capillary, projecting, inserted into the middle of the 

 tube ; alternately longer. Style incurved at the apex. 



670. D. palustris Linn, amcen. ac. iii. 12. 1. 1. f. 7. Bige- 

 low med. hot. ii. t. 37- Duham. arb. i. t. 212. A marshy 

 shrub, frequenting low woods in North America, bearing the se- 

 verest cold and the greatest heat of the different parts of the 

 Union. 



An irregular shrub, with a tendency to a horizontal direction in its 

 branches. The branches interrupted or jointed. Leaves alternate, 

 with very short petioles, oval, entire, rather acute, downy when young, 

 smooth and membranous when fully grown, and pale on the under side. 

 The flowers appear long before the leaves. When young they are 

 enclosed within a small hairy bud, occupying a sheath or cavity in the 

 325 Y 3 



