190 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
usually with a few sharp teeth towards the apex. Male catkins in 
subdistichous racemes, from buds formed in summer in the axils of 
the leaves, opening in the succeeding spring before the leaf-buds begin 
to expand, erect, } to 4 inch long: catkin-scales broadly ovate-rhombic, 
acute, concave, brown with pale margins: anthers reddish; pollen 
very abundant, pale yellow. Catkins of the female plant formed in 
summer as in the male plant, but a little later in expanding in the 
following spring, ovoid, } inch long in flower: catkin-scales reddish- 
brown: styles protruded, crimson. Drupes about the size of rape- 
seed, in catkins not more than } to 1 inch long, greenish yellow, pointed 
and margined, enclosed at the base in the persistent floral-scales, which 
are sprinkled with small resinous dots. Leaves rather dull green above, 
paler and yellower beneath, subglabrous or (as well as the branches of 
the year) thinly sprinkled with short hairs; young branches and leaves 
sprinkled with minute dots of yellow fragrant resin. 
Bog Myrtle. 
French, Myrica galé. German, Gemeiner Gagel. 
This is a low-growing shrub, with small leaves, clothed over with whitish resinous 
glands, and having avery fragrant odour. It is abundant on the northern moors, and 
in other parts of the island. It seldom rises more than two feet in height ; but forms 
very close dense tufts, which are the favourite shelter of various birds, and likewise 
of the viper. 
The whole plant is aromatic. The leaves are sometimes used to flavour beer, as an 
agreeable substitute for hops. They are likewise employed to give a pleasant scent 
to clothes, and to keep away vermin. In Wales the cottagers lay the branches where 
they will be obnoxious to fleas, the odour being so hateful to these insects that a witty 
tourist declares the myrica to be the genuine “ traveller's joy.” A strong decoction 
of the tops is given to children to destroy worms, and it is likewise used as a poison 
for fleas. An infusion of the tops is used for tanning calf-skins, and as a yellow dye. 
The berries partake of the aromatic qualities of the leaves, and are employed in 
France as a spice. They are supposed, however, to give a narcotic quality to beer in 
which they have been infused. By distillation they yield a very fragrant essential 
oil. Upon the surface of the catkins is a peculiar wax-like secretion, which may be 
separated by immersing them in boiling water. It possesses all the properties of true 
wax, and like that obtained from another species, M. cerifera, the “ Candleberry 
Myrtle,” growing in New Brunswick, may be employed for candle-making. Candles 
made from the foreign species have been exhibited in the Great Exhibitions of 1851 
and 1862. Though the stems of the bog myrtle are too small to be of any other 
economic value, they furnish good fuel, and were used in Gerard’s time by the people 
of the Isle of Ely to heat their ovens. In Wales, too, it is gathered for fuel, and 
while burning reminds us of the poet’s words, 
« Gale from the bogs shail waft Arabian balm.” 
Sun-ORDER IV.—SALICINE. 
Leaves alternate (rarely a few of the opposite), simple, undivided, 
pinnately or palmately veined. Stipules mostly persistent and herba- 
