CLETHRACE.E. WHITE-ALDER FAMILY 



WHITE-ALDER. CLETHRA. SWEET PEPPERBUSH 



Ctethra aluifblia. 



Clethra, of Greek derivation, meaning alder, in reference 

 to the resemblance between its foliage and that of the 

 alder. 



Late flowering, three to ten feet high, frequently cultivated. 

 Found in masses, growing in low or wet places, along the 

 banks of streams, sometimes in swamps where the roots are sub- 

 merged in early spring or after heavy rains. Ranges from Maine 

 to Florida, mostly near the coast. 



Stems. Slender, straight, not much branched, at first pale 

 green and stellate-downy, then dull, pale, brownish yellow ; 

 finally dark, yellowish brown. 



Leaves. Alternate, simple, pinnately veined, three and a half 

 to four inches long, obovate, narrowed or wedge-shaped at base, 

 sharply serrate at least beyond the middle, acute or obtuse at 

 apex. Midvein and primary veins depressed above, prominent 

 below. They come out of the bud slightly involute, pale green 

 tipped with/eddish brown, glabrous and shining above, densely 

 hairy beneath ; when full grown are deep dark green above, dull 

 yellow green beneath. In autumn they turn a bright clear yel- 

 low. Petioles half an inch long. 



Flowers. August, September. Perfect, white, fragrant, borne 

 in solitary or clustered slender racemes four to six inches long, 

 which are either terminal or appear in the axils of the upper 

 leaves. Central axis and pedicels pubescent, hairs in starry-like 

 groups. 



402 



