ERICACEAE HEATH FALMIY 



Clethra alnifolia, L. 



Creamy yellow- white Siveet Pepperbush, 



White Alder, 

 July-September Spiked A Ider . 



Clethra: Greek name of the alder, which this genus some- 

 what resembles. 

 Alnifolia: Latin for leaves of the alder. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: swamps. 



THE SHRUB : erect, three feet to ten feet high, very much 

 branched, densely leafy to the summit; the stems smooth, 

 except for minute hoary hairs on the twigs. 



THE LEAVES: opposite; obovate; one inch to three inches 

 long; hairless, or very nearly so, and green on both surfaces; 

 blunt or acute at the apex; narrowed or wedge-shaped at 

 the base ; with short saw-teeth at least beyond the middle, 

 entire toward the base; rather prominently veined. 



THE FLOWERS: in a close spike, small, somewhat urn- 

 shaped; pedicels and calyx with hoary hairs; calyx-lobes 

 oblong, obtuse. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule, about the length of the calyx. 



This bush grows on the damp thicket-borders of swamps. 

 If recognition does not come through the small cream- 

 coloured flowers crowded in cylinders at the tip of the 

 numerous stiff and leafy branches, it is bound to come 

 through the sweet odour. So prolific are these bushes in 

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