650 ORDER 121. MYRICACE^. 



lanceolate ; fertile aments oval. Not uncommon along streams, N. Eng. to "Wis. 

 and Can. A tall shrub or small tree, readily distinguishable by the form and 

 pubescence of the leaves. {A. glauca MX.) 



2 A. serrulata "Willd. SMOOTH ALDER. ,Lvs dbovate, acuminate, doubly serru- 

 late, smooth beneath, except the veins and their axils ; stip. elliptical, obtuse. A 

 well known shrub growing in clumps, and forming thickets on the borders of 



fertile ones short, thick, dark brown, persistent, several together a little below the 

 sterile one. Mar. r Apr. (A. rubra Tuckerman.) 



3 A. viridis DC. MOUNTAIN ALDER. Lvs. oval, acute, obtusish at base, doubly 

 serrate, clothed with a soft viscid pubescence, or subglabrous, villous on the veins 

 and axils beneath ; stip. broadly ovate ; fertile aments on long peduncles, oval. 

 High mountain streams, N. Eng. N. Y. and Can. An elegant shrub, 3 4f high. 

 Leaves varying to broad-ovate, rarely cordate, nearly smooth in the alpine state, 

 otherwise softly pubescent and sprinkled with resinous particles. Apr. (A. 

 crispa MX.) 



ORDEII CXXI. MYRICACEJE. GALEWORTS. 



Shrubs with alternate, resinous-dotted, often fragrant leaves, with the flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious, achlamydeous, both kinds in scaly aments. $ Stamens 2 

 to 8. $ Ovary 1 -celled, with 1 erect ovule; stigmas 2, filiform. Fruit dry or dru- 

 paceous, indehiscent. Seed with no albumen. 



Genera 3, species 20, found in tho temperate parts of N. America, in India and S. Africa, and 

 rtne species in Europe. Stceet Fern is highly aromatic and astringent. The fruit of the Bd'j- 

 oerry bush yields wax abundantly. 



i. MYRFCA, L. CANDLEBERRY MYRTLE. (Gr. [ivptfa, to perfume. 

 The name anciently designated the Tamarind tree.) Flowers $ ? . 

 Aments $ cylindrical, $ small, ovoid-capitate. 6 Stamens 4 to 0, 

 short, erect, anthers large, 4-valved. $ Ovary 1 to each bract, with 3 

 scales at its base, superior ; styles 2, spreading ; stigmas 2, acute ; drupe 

 1-celled, 1-seedcd, covered with wax or resinous dots. Stip. very fuga- 

 cious or 0. 



1 M. Gale L. SWEET GALE. DUTCH MYRTLE. Lvs. clustered, cuneate-lanceolate, 

 obtuse and serrate above, margin very entire and slightly revolute below, tapering 

 to a very short petiole; sterile aments clustered, of ovate, cordate, acuminate, ciliatc 

 scales ; fr. dotted in an oblong, dense, amentaceous head. A branching shrub. 

 3 if high, on the inundated borders of ponds and mountain lakes, Can. to Car. 

 Leaves dark green, paler beneath with a strong mid vein, 9 18" by 4 6", entire 

 -J the length. $ aud $ aments on separate plants, the former terminal, about 1 ' 

 in length, the latter axillary and much shorter. Fruit and leaves when crushed, 

 with a pungent, spicy odor. May. 



2 M. cerifera L. BAYBERRY. WAX MYRTLE. Lvs. glabrous, cuneale-ollong, 

 rather acute or obtuse, distinctly petiolato, margin entire or remotely undulato- 

 dentate above; aments cotemporary with the leaves, scattered, naked, the f 

 larger, with lax, roundish scales; fr. spherical, distinct, clustered, covered with 

 wax. This interesting and useful shrub is found in dry woods or in open fields. 

 Nova Scotia to Flor., W. to Lake Erie. Height 2 8f, c^ered with a grayish 

 bark. Very branching with numerous dry looking leaves, 18 to 30" by 6 to 9' . 

 Aments 6. to 9" long. Drupe ] \" long, covered with white wax, the baybeny 

 tallow of commerce. May. 



3 M. Carolinensis L. Lvs. larger, evergreen, coriaceous, cuneate- elliptical, acute . 

 with about 4 acute teeth near the apex, petiolate ; $ aments solitary or several iu 

 the axils of the old leaves ; $ naked, u'ith rounded, acuminate scales. Swamps, 

 S. Car. to Flu. Shrub 4 to Sf high. Lvs. 3 to 5' by 1 to 2', petiole 1' or less. 



