CLASS XXII. ORDER III., IV. 393 



short petioles, quite entire, acute, or submucronate, glaucous 

 with a silken down underneath. Aments ovate, with obovate 

 reddish scales. Capsules pubescent when young, smooth when 

 old. Subject to many varieties. — White mountains. — June. 

 Many alpine co-species have been described, the discrimination of 

 which involves much difficulty. 



TRIANDRIA. 



403. EMPETRUM. 

 Empetrum nigrum. L. Crowberry. Craktberry. 



Stems procumbent ; leaves scattered, imbricated ; 

 flowers axillary, solitary. 



A prostrate shrub, with small, dense, evergreen foliage, like 

 that of the Heaths. Leaves imbricate, scarcely petioled, oblong, 

 obtuse, revolute at the edge. Flowers axillary, very small, red- 

 dish. Berry roundish, black. — On the summits of the White 

 mountains. — June. 

 Empetrum Conradi. Torr. Conrad's Empetrum. 



Stems procumbent, leaves verticillate, imbricated, 

 flowers aggregated, axillary and terminal. 



A spreading shrub with Heath-like branches, resembling the 

 preceding species. Leaves linear, firm, not half an inch long, 

 crowded, and mostly verticillate, as may be seen by inspecting 

 the scars on the lower parts of the branches, from which the 

 leaves have fallen off. Barren flowers sessile in the axils of the 

 leaves at the summit of the last year's branches, with crimson sta- 

 mens projecting beyond the leaves. Fertile flowers in small in- 

 conspicuous, terminal heads. — Found at Plymouth by many of 

 our botanists, flowering early in April. 



TETRANDRIA. 



404. MYRICA. 

 Myrica Gale. L. Sweet Gale. Dutch Myrtle. 



Leaves wedge-lanceolate, slightly serrate above ; 

 barren aments imbricate, the scales ciliate; fruit in 

 scaly heads. Mich. 



