BETULA 



311 



Myrica and Comptbnia. Wax ' Myrtle ' (548j — Myiica cerifera,— 

 Sweet Gale (549) — Myrica Gale, — Waxberky ofBayijerry (550) — 

 Myi-ica carolin^nsis, — and Sweet ' P'ern ' (551) — Myrica (Comptonia) 

 asplenifolia, — are fragrant plants with alternate simple leaves, inconspic- 

 uons flowers, and waxy or bur-like dry globular fruits. They are wild 

 shrubs rare in cultivation. The Sweet Tern ' receives its name from the 

 fern-like appearance ( f its leaves and is useful to cover, with its dense 

 foliage, rocky barren and shady places. [Seeds ; layers ; twig cuttings.] 



* Leaves narrow and notched like a fern ; fruit bur-like. Sweet 



' Fern' (551) — Myrica (Comptonia) asplenifolia. 



* Leaves entire or with few notches ; fruit globular, waxy. (A.) 



A. Low shrubs always less than 10 feet high ; leaves usually blunt at 

 tip. (B.) 

 B. Twigs dark brown ; leaves small, 1-2| inches long. Sweet 



Gale (541)) — Myrica Gale. 

 B. Twigs gray ; leaves larger, 2-4 inches long. Waxberry 

 (550) or Bayberry — Myrica carolinensis. 

 A. Tall shrub, sometimes a small tree to 40 feet ; leaves generally 

 with acute tips. Wax 'Myrtle' (548) — Mjrrica cerifera. 



Betula. The Bircues are mainly tall hardy trees but there are several 

 species shrubby in growth and frequent in cultivation. The birches have 

 alternate simple straight-veined notched leaves, sometimes cut into lobes. 



Fig. 552. — European White Birch. 



Fig. 553. — Scrub Birch. 



