256 



MYRICACE.E. 



[Diclinous Exogens, 



Order LXXXI. MYRICACE^E — Galeworts. 



Myriceae, Rich. Anal, dn Fr. (1808; ; Illume Fl. Java ; Barll. Ord. Nat. 98. (1830) ; Endlick. Gen. 



lxwvii ; Mcisner, p. 351. 



Diagnosis. — Amental Exoijens, with a l-celled ovary and a single erect seed, with a 



superior radicle. 



Leafy shrubs, or small trees, covered with resinous glands and dots ; leaves alternate, 

 simple, with or without stipules. Flowers $ $ , amentaceous, naked. $ Stamens 

 2 to 8, generally in the axil of a scale-like bract ; anthers 2- or 4-celled, opening 



lengthwise. $? Ovary l-celled, surrounded by- 

 several hypogynous scales ; ovule solitary, 

 erect, orthotropal ; stigmas 2, subulate, or 

 dilated and petaloid. Fruit drupaceous, often 

 covered with waxy secretions, and, with the 

 hypogynous scales of the ovary, become fleshy 

 and adherent. Seed solitary, erect ; embryo 

 without albumen ; cotyledons 2, plano-convex ; 

 radicle short, superior. 



The fragrant Gales are just half way between 



•'* the Urtical and Amental Alliances. With 



Nettleworts they exactly agi*ee, except in 



wanting albumen and having catkins ; with 



1 the Amental Alliances they correspond in all 



essential particulars, but stand distinctly 



marked by the perfect simplicity of their 



fruit, in which they agree with Beefwoods 



only. In their solitary erect ovule, superior 



radicle, often dilated stigmas, and aromatic 



secretions, so uncommon among plants in this 



neighbourhood, they nearly approach Juglands, 



but are distinguished by their free ovary. 



Looking at plants not belonging to the Diclinous 



group, they may be compared with Peppers, 



because of their erect ovules, l-celled ovary, 



and naked flowers ; but the resemblance is 



distant. 



Found in the temperate parts of North America, the tropics of South America, 



the Cape of Good Hope, and India. One species only inhabits the swamps of Europe. 



Aromatic shrubs, or trees of considerable size. Comptonia asplenifolia possesses 



astringent and tonic properties, and is much used in the domestic medicine of the United 



States, in cases of diarrhoea. Benzoic and tannic acids, with a resinous matter, occur in 



its aromatic bark. Wax is obtained in great abundance from the berries of Myrica 



cerifera, and other species. The fruit of Myrica sapida is about as large as a cherry, 



and, according to Buchanan, is pleasantly acid and eatable in Nepal. Myrica Gale 



yields an ethereal oil of a yellow colour, feeble odour, and mild taste, which after a 



while becomes slightly warm. Its leaves were formerly used against the itch, and in 



Sweden as a substitute for hops in brewing. The root of Myrica cerifera is said to be 



emetic, or drastic in large doses. 



GENERA. 

 Myrica, I. \ Gale, Tourn. | Comptonia, Bunks. | Clarisia, Ii. ct P. 



Numbers. Gen. 3. Sp. 20 ? 



EmpctracetB. 

 Jw)landacece. 

 Position. — Betulacese. — Myricace^e.- 



UrticacecB. 



5 7 



Fig. CLXXll. 



-Casuarinacere. 



Fig. CLXXll. -Comptonia asplenifolia; 1.? of Myrica cerifera guarded hy its scale; 2 and 3. the 

 same divested of the scale and cut perpendiculariy ; -t. $ of ditto ; 5. Fruit of Myrica Gale ; 6. a perpen- 

 dicular section ; 7. a section of the seed. 



