CALYCANTHUS FAMILY 



(Calycanthaceae) 



Aromatic shrubs with opposite entire leaves, sepals and 

 1 petals similar and indefinite of number. 



SWEET SHRUB (Calycanthus occidentalis, H. & A.). Flow- 

 jers wine-colored, maroon, or sometimes white, 2 to 3 inches 

 I across, solitary, perennial on leafy branches; petals, sepals 

 jand stamens passing into each other so as to be practically 

 {indistinguishable from one another. A shrub 4 to 12 feet high, 

 jwith harsh oval leaves 2 to 6 inches long; blooming through- 

 lout the summer and into the autumn usually along streams 

 lin mountain canons from Central California northward. 

 jThe foliage and flowers are fragrant when crushed, but not so 

 jmuch so as those of the related "shrub" or Carolina Allspice 

 jof the East. The flower holds its fragrance for a time even 

 lafter wilting. The cup-like seed vessels, an inch or so long, 

 fremain on the bushes until the next year, and serve to identify 

 jthe plant when out of flower. 



This western Calycanthus also goes by the common names 



ff Spice-bush and Wine-flower. Some Northern California 

 ndians prized the pithy shoots highly for arrow shafts. 

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