MYRICACE/E— BAYBERRY FAMILY 



SWEET GALE. DUTCH MYRTLE 



Myrica gale. 



Myrica, of Greek derivation, but of obscure application to 



this plant. 



Erect, three to five feet high, and forming tangled patches ; 

 growing in places which are inundated through a part of the 

 year. Ranges from Labrador and Newfoundland through New 

 England and the Middle States as far south as Virginia and 

 along the Great Lakes to Minnesota. Roots long, matted. 



Stems. — Branches and upper part a rich dark purple, polished 

 and shining. On old and lower stems the outer bark cracks and 

 rolls horizontally, becoming rough, and in color pale. 



Winter buds. — Leaf buds minute. Staminate aments in the 

 axils of the upper leaves in short, ovoid, pointed buds. 



Leaves. — Alternate, simple, one and one-half to two and one- 

 half inches long, oblanceolate, wedge-shaped at base, partly 

 entire but serrate toward the apex, which is a little pointed. 

 They come out of the bud revolute, pale green, slightly hairy, 

 dotted with pale amber resinous dots above and below; when full 

 grown are a dull dark green, glabrous above, downy on the veins 

 below and sprinkled with minute, yellow, resinous dots above and 

 below. Fragrant. 



Flowers. — April. Mostly dioecious, individual flowers solitary 

 under a scale-like bract. Staminate flowers borne in catkins an 

 inch or more long, terminal ; scales on short stalks, covered with 

 resinous dots. Stamens three or four; anthers large, opening 

 with four valves. Pistillate catkins are ovoid ; scales triangular; 

 stigmas two-lobed, purple, threadlike. 



437 



