MYRICACEAZ. 291 



1. C. ALBA (Shag-bark). Leaflets about 5, lanceolate-obovate or oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, serrate ; fruit globular, depressed at apex ; nut some- 

 what compressed, covered with a thick epicarp, tapering abruptly at the end, 

 thin-shelled, with a large, oily, delicious kernel. May. 



2. C. TOMENTOSA ( Thick-shelled Walnut). Leaflets 7-9, oblong-lance- 

 olate or obovate-lanceolate, acuminate, aments hairy ; fruit between ovoid 

 and globose ; epicarp thick and almost woody ; nut marked with about 6 

 angles, with a well-flavored kernel. May. 



3. C. PORCINA (Pig-nut]. Leaflets 5-7, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 

 serrate, acuminate ; fruit obovate or pyriform, with a thin, dry epicarp, open- 

 ing not more than half-way ; nut small, extremely hard, with a thickish shell, 

 and a small, bitterish kernel. May. 



4. C. AMARA (Bitter-nut}. Leaflets 7-11, oblong-lanceolate, serrate, 

 acuminate, smooth ; fruit globular, with a very thin and soft husk, opening 

 half-way down ; nut with a very thin shell, capable of being crushed by the 

 fingers ; kernel very bitter. May. 



Order LXXVI. MYRICACE^E (Sweet-Gale Family). 



Shrubs. Leaves simple, aromatic, dotted with resinous glands. 

 Flowers monoecious or dioecious. Sterile ones in aments, each in 

 the axil of a bract. Stamens 2-6. Anthers 2-4-celled, opening 

 lengthwise. Fertile flowers in aments or globose clusters. Ovary 

 i -celled, i-ovuled, surrounded by several scales. Stigmas 2, subu- 

 late, or dilated and somewhat petaloid. Fruit a drupe-like, i- 

 seeded nut. 



{Flowers dioecious Myrica. 



1. Myrica. Flowers dioecious. Barren on oblong aments, each 

 contained in a bract ; stamens 2-8. Fertile flowers in ovoid aments. 

 Ovary solitary, with 2 filiform stigmas. Fruit a globular nut, covered 

 with resinous scales. Shrubs. 



M. GALE (Sweet Gale). Leaves lanceolate, cuneate at base, serrate near 

 the apex, on very short petioles, after the flowers. Barren aments clustered ; 

 scales ovate, cordate ; fruit in dense, oblong heads. A low shrub with a 

 dark brownish bark. Shrub, 3-4 feet high. April. 



2. Comptonia. Flowers monoecious. Barren flowers in cylindri- 

 cal aments ; bracts reniform, cordate ; stamens 3-6. Fertile flowers 

 in globular aments ; calyx-scales 5-6. Styles 2. Nut ovoid, smooth, 

 i-celled. Shrubs. 



C. ASPLENIFOLIA (Sweet Fern). Leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 

 pinnatifid with rounded segments, thin, dark green, numerous, on short 

 petioles, fragrant ; stipules semi-cordate, in pairs ; barren aments erect, ob- 



MYRICACEyE. . 



Flowers monoecious Comptonia. 



