LAUREL FAMILY 



Calyx. — Six-parted, yellow ; segments oblong, obtuse, spread- 

 ing, imbricate in bud. 



Corolla. — Wanting. 



Stamens. — Staminate flowers with nine stamens in three rows, 

 the inner filaments one to two-lobed and gland-bearing at base ; 

 anthers two-celled, opening by two uplifted valves. The pistil- 

 late flowers with fifteen to eighteen rudiments of stamens in two 

 forms, and a globular ovary, with short thick style. 



Fruit. — Drupe, oblong, or obovoid, scarlet, shining, half an 

 inch long, borne singly or in clusters of two to five. Flesh thin, 

 yellow, aromatic ; seed large, oblong. 



The Spice-bush begins and ends its sylvan year in 

 yellow. The pale blossoms fairly cover the branches 

 in April, coming forth in company^ with the first maples 

 and early elms. The late October finds it a glow of 

 sunshine from the yellow of its changing leaves. 



The shrub is erect and trim and so easily^ cultivated 

 that it is worthy of a place in yard or lawn ; it is also 

 excellent for roadside planting. The leaves are large 

 and beautiful and the plant is thickly clothed with them 

 when it grows in a damp, shaded location. But where 

 it produces most foliage it bears the least fruit ; like 

 many^ other plants it develops the one at the expense 

 of the other. The bush is aromatic in bark, fruit, and 

 leaf, and possessed some reputation in times past for 

 medicinal qualities. 



There is a notable difference in the yellow color of 

 the flowers on different bushes. Ordinarily, stamens 

 and pistils are produced in separate flowers and these 

 flowers are usually^ found on different plants. The 

 staminate flowers have not only the y^ellow calyx but 

 the yellow anthers as well — this brightens them to a 

 marked degree ; the pistillate flowers are duller. 



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