290 OHDER 108. LAURACE^E. 



with 5 intervening sterile filaments, anth. 1-celled. Stig. capitate. Fr. at 

 in Iresine. Leaves opposite. Heads axillary and terminal. 



T. polygonoides Moq. Procumbent, diffuse, hairy ; leaves oval, obtuse, attenuate 

 to a winged petiole ; flowers silvery whitish. 2f Waste grounds, S. 



7. FRCELICHIA, Mcench. Fls. 3-bracted. Calyx tubular, 5-cleft at 

 apex. Sta. 5, connate into a tube, with 5 sterile filaments. Anth. 1-celled 

 Stigmas capitate or tufted. Utricle enclosed in the hardened calyx, (p 

 Hairy or woolly stems, long-jointed. 



F. Flofldana Moq. Nearly simple, strictly erect; leaves linear; flowers in *hort 

 dense, cottony spikes. River banks, W. and 8. 1 3f. July, August 



ORDEK CVIII. LAURACE^E. LAURELS. 



Trees and shi-vbs aromatic, mostly with alternate, simple, punctate leaves. 

 Flowers with a colored perianth of 4 6 slightly united, strongly imbri- 

 cated sepals. AntJiers 2- or 4-celled, opening upward by as many recurved, 

 lid-like valves. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled, free, in fruit a berry or a drupe. 

 Seed without albumen. 



$ Flowers perfect. Stamens 12, the 3 inner sterile. Evergreen trees PERSKA. 1 



a Leafless vines. S. Fla OASSYTA. 



S Flowers dioecious. Stamens 9, all fertile. Leaves deciduous. ..(*) 



Involucre none. Anthers 4-celled. 4-valved. Leaves lobed SASSAFRAS. 2 



Involucre 4-leaved. Anthers 2-ceIled, 2-valved. Leaves entire BK.NZOIN. 3 



Involucre 4-leaved. Anthers 4-celled, 4-valved. Leaves entire TKTK.I.VTHKKA. 4 



1. PERSE A, Gaert. RED BAY. BAT GALLS. Fls. , umbellate, with 

 no involucre. Cal. of 6 sepals. Sta. 12, the 3 inner sterile, reduced to mere 

 glands, anth. 4-celled (2 cells above and 2 below). Drupe oval, seated on 

 the persistent calyx, containing 1 large seed. J) 



P. Carollnensla MX. Tree 30 40f, often but a shrub, with lance-oblong, entire, firm 

 leaves, 6' ; umbels small, on ped. 12' ; drupe oval, blue. Swamps, Va. to Fla. 

 Bark deep-furrowed ; wood fine, rose-colored. April, May. 



2. SASSAFRAS, Nees. SASSAFRAS. Fls. $ 2. Calyx 6-parted, du 

 ciduous. S Sta. 9, the 3 inner with a pair of glands at base, anth. 4-celled. 



$ Sta. 6, all sterile. Ov., style, and stig. 1. Drupes ovoid, blue, on thick 

 red pedicels. J> Flowers yellow, appearing before the leaves in Mar. Jn. 



S. offlcinale Nees. Shrub or small tree, 10 20f ; leaves of two forms ovate and en- 

 tire, or 3-lobed, cuneate at ba^e ; flowurs handsome, in racemes or corymbs. Fields 

 and woods. Bark pleasantly aromatic. 



3. BENZOIN, Nees. SPICE WOOD. Flowers $ $ , with 4 involucrato 

 scal( s. Cal. 5- or 6-parted. $ Sta. 9, the inner 3 glandular at base, anlh. 

 2-celled. ? Sta. 15 18 rudiments. Drupe obovoid, red. > *> Lvs. entire. 

 Fis. yellow, in small lateral clusters before the leaves. (Lindera, Thunb.) 



1 B. odoriferum Neee. Shrub 6 12f; leaves lance-obovato, acute at base; buds 



and pedicels smooth. Moist woods : common. May. 



2 B. melisssefoliiim Nees. Shrub 2 3f ; leaves lance-oblong, abrupt or cordate 



at base ; buds and pedicels villous. Swamps. S. February, March 



