198 MYRICACEiE. Comptonia. 



2. COMPTONIA. Soland. ; Gcert.fruct. 2. p. 58. t. 90. SWEET FERN. 



[ In honor of Henry Compton, a Bishop of London of the last century, who was a cultivator of plants and a patron 



of botany.] 



Flowers moncecious. Sterile fl. in cylindrical closely imbricated atnents ; the scales 

 reniform-cordate, acuminate, 1 -flowered. Calyx of two minute scarious sepals, persistent. 

 Stamens 3 — 5 ; the anther -cells distinct, with a narrow connective. Fertile fl. in 

 globose aments : scales reniform, acute. Involucral scales 5-6, unequal, united at the 

 base, subulate-linear, much longer than the ovary. Styles 2. Nut ovoid-oblong, smooth. 

 — A fragrant shrub, with stipulate pinnatifid leaves. 



1. Comptonia asplenifolia. Ait. Sweet Fern. 



Ait. Kew. 3. p. 334 ; GcBrt. I. c. ; Michx.fl. 2. p. 203 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 635 ; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 562 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 340 ; Torr. compend. p. 349 ; Beck, hot. p. 324 ; Darlingt. fl. 

 Cest. p. 52. Liquidambar asplenifolia, Linn. sp. 2. p. 999. 



A shrub about two feet high, with numerous brownish shining branches. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, 3-4 inches long, acute, pinnatifid, with rounded lobes : stipules semicordate, 

 acuminate, often auriculate. Sterile aments terminal, several together, at first erect, finally 

 incurved. Bracts hairy. Fertile aments lateral, presenting the appearance of a small bur, 

 being covered with numerous long involucral scales. Nut brownish, compressed. 



Dry woods and hill-sides. Fl. April - May. Fr. September. The plant emits a strong 

 resinous aromatic scent, especially when bruised. It is a popular remedy in dysentery, but 

 probably of little efficacy. 



Order CI. BETULACE.^. L. C. Rich. The Birch Tribe. 



Flowers moncecious, in aments. Sterile fl. Bracts peltate, stipitate, scale-like, 

 bracteolate on each side, 3-flowered. Calyx consisting of a single scale, or 

 4-sepalled. Stamens 4 : filaments very short, distinct : anthers 1- or 2-celled. 

 Fertile fl. Bracts sessile, entire or 3-lobed, 2 - 3-flowered. Calyx none. 

 Ovary 2-celled, with a single ovule suspended from near the summit of each 

 cell : style none : stigmas 2, long and filiform. Fruit a little one-celled nut, 

 which is often winged. — Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple serrate leaves 

 and free caducous stipules. 



