650 



ORDER 121. MYRIC AGILE. 



lanceolate; fertile amenta oval. Not uncommon along streams, N. Eng. 



and Can. ' A tall shrub or small tree, readily distinguishable by the form and 



pubescence of the leaves. (A. glauca MX.) 



2 A. sernilata Willd. SMOOTH ALDER. Lvs obovate, acuminate, doubly serru- 

 late, smooth beneath, except the veins and their axils ; stip. elliptical, obtuse. A 

 >vell known shrub growing in clumps, and forming thickets on the borders of 

 ponds and rivers, and in swamps. Stems numerous, rather straight, 10 15f in 

 height. Leaves 2 4' long and | as wide, strongly veined ; petioles ^ -' long. 

 Aments 2 3' long, slender, pendulous, 'fascicled at the ends of the branches; 

 fertile ones short, thick, dark brown, persistent, several together a little below the 

 sterile one. Mar., Apr. (A. rubra Tuckerman.) 



3 A. viridis DC. MOUNTAIN ALDER. Lvs. oval, acute, obtusish at base, donbly 

 serrate, clothed with a soft viscid pubescence, or subglabrous, villous on the veins 

 and axils beneath ; stip. broadly ovate ; fertile aments on long peduncles, oval. 

 High mountain streams, N. Eng. N. Y. and Can. An elegant shrub, 3 -4f high. 

 Leaves varying to broad-ovate, rarely cordate, nearly smooth in the alpine state, 

 otherwise softly pubescent and sprinkled with resinous particles. Apr. (A. 

 crispa MX.) 



ORDER CXXI. MYRICACEJE. GALEWORTS. 



Shrubs with alternate, resinous-dotted, often fragrant leaves, with the flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious, achlamydeous, both kinds in scaly aments. $ Stamens 2 

 to 8. 2 Ovary 1 -celled, with 1 erect ovule; stigmas 2, filiform. Fruit dry or dru- 

 paceous, indehiscent. Seed with no albumen. 



Genera 3, specie* 20, found in the temperate parts of N. America, in India and S. Africa, am! 

 one species in Europe. Sweet Fern is highly aromatic and astringent. The fruit of the JBUy- 

 terry bmtb yields wax abundantly. 



1. MYRFCA, L. CANDLEBERRY MYRTLE. (Gr. ^vp/^w, to perfume, 

 The name anciently designated the Tamarind tree.) Flowers $ ? . 

 Aments $ cylindrical, $ small, ovoid-capitate. $ Stamens 4 to 6, 

 short, erect, anthers large, 4-valvcd. ? Ovary 1 to each bract, with 3 

 scales at its base, superior ; styles 2, spreading ; stigmas 2, acute ; drupe 

 1-celled, 1 -seeded, covered with wax or resinous dots. Stip. very fuga- 

 cious or 0. 



1 M. Gale L. SWEET GALE. DUTCH MYRTLE. Lvs. clustered, cuneate-lanceolate, 

 obtuse and serrate above, margin very entire and slightly revolute below, tapering 

 to a very short petiole ; sterile aments clustered, of ovate, cordate, acuminate, ciliato 

 scales ; ft: dotted in an oblong, dense, amentaceous head. A branching shrub, 

 3 4f high, on the inundated borders of ponds and mountain lakes, Can. to Car. 

 Leaves dark green, paler beneath with a strong midvein, 9 18" by 4 6", entire* 

 % the length. $ and 2 aments on separate plants, the former terminal, about 1' 

 in length, the latter axillary and much shorter. Fruit and leaves when crushed, 

 with a pungent, spicy odor. May. 



2 M. cerifera L. BAYBERRY. TV AX MYRTLE. Lvs. glabrous, cuneate-ollong, 

 rather acute cr obtuse, distinctly petiolate, margin entire or remotely undulate- 

 dentato above; aments cotemporary with the leaves, scattered, naked, the S 

 larger, with lax, roundish scales; //. spherical, distinct, clustered, covered with 

 wax. This interesting and useful shrub is found in dry woods or in open fields, 

 Nova Scotia to Flor., "W. to Lake Erie. Height 2 8f, covered with a grayish 

 bark. Very branching with numerous dry looking leaves, 18 to 30" by 6 to 9". 

 Aments G to 9" long. Drupe 1 J" long, covered with white wax, tho bayberry 

 tallow of commerce. May. 



3 M. Carolinensis L. Lvs. larger, evergreen, coriaceous, cuneate-elliptical, acute, 

 with about 4 acute teeth near the apex, petiolate ; $ aments solitary or several iu 

 the axils of the old leaves ; 2 naked, with rounded, acuminate scales. Swamps, 

 S. Car. to Fla. Shrub 4 to 8f high. Lvs. 3 to 5' by 1 to 2', petiole 1' or less. 



