LADKACE^. (laurel FAMILY.) 379 



dnced to a sort of glands : the rest bearing 4-ceIled anthers (i. e. each of the two 

 proper cells is divided transversely into two), opening by as many uplifted 

 valves ; the anthers of 3 stamens turned outward, the others introrse. — Trees, 

 with persistent entire leaves and small panicled flowers. (An ancient name of 

 some Oriental tree.) 



I. P. Carolinensls, Nees. (Bed Bay.) Hoary at least when young 

 with a fine down ; leaves oblong, pale, soon becoming smooth above ; peduncle 

 bearing few flowers in a close cluster ; sepals downy, the outer shorter ; hemes 

 dark blue, on a, red stalk. (Laurus Carolinensis, Catesb. L. Borbonia, L.) — 

 Swamps, Delaware, Virginia, and southward. May. — A small tree. 



a. sAsSAFRAS, Nees. Sassafbas. 



Flowers dicecious, with a 6-parted spreading calyx ; the fertile kind with 9 

 stamens inserted on the base of the calyx in 3 rows, the 3 inner with a pair of 

 stalked glands at the base of each ; anthers 4-cellcd, 4-valved : fertile flowers 

 with 6 short rudiments of stamens and an ovoid ovary. Drupe ovoid (blue), 

 supported on a club-shaped and rather fleshy (reddish) pedicel. — Trees, with 

 spicy-aromatic bark, very mucilaginous twigs and foliage ;' the latter decidu- 

 ous, often lobed. Flowers greenish-yellow, naked, in clustered and peduncled 

 corymbed racemes, appearing with the leaves. Buds scaly. (The popular name, 

 of Spanish origin.) 



1. S> officinale, Nees. Leaves ovate, entire, or some of them 3-lobed, 

 soon glabrous. (Laurus Sassafras, L.) — Rich woods; common, especially 

 eastward. April. — Tree 15° - 50° high, with yellowish-green twigs. 



3. BENZOIN, Nees. Wild Allspice. Fever-bush. 



Flowers polygamous-dicecious, with a 6-parted open calyx; the sterile kind 

 with 9 stamens in 3 rows, the inner ones 1 - 2-Iobed and gland-bearing at the 

 base; anthers 2-celled and 2-valved: fertile flowers with 15-18 radiments of 

 stamens in 2 forms, and a globular ovary. Drupe obovoid, red, the stalk not 

 thickened. — Shrubs, with entue deciduous leaves, and honey-yellow-flowere in 

 almost sessile lateral umbel-like clusters appearing before the leaves ; the clus- 

 ters composed of smaller clusters or umbels, each of 4 - 6 flowers and sun-ound- 

 cd by an involucre of 4 deciduous scales. (Named from the aroma, which has 

 been likened to that of benzoin.) 



1. B. odoriferum, Nees. (Spicb-bush. Benjamin-bush.) Nearly 

 smooth; leaves oblong-obovate, pale underneath. (Laurus Benzoin, i.) — Damp 

 woods ; rather common. March, April. 



2. B. HieliSSBEfoIiUHl, Nees. Young branches and buds pubescent ; 

 leaves oblong, obtuse or heart-shaped at the base, downy beneath ; umbels few. 

 (Laurus melissaefolia, Wali. L. diospyroides, Michx.) — Low grounds, Vir- 

 ginia and southward. April. 



4. TETRANTHERA, Jacq. Tethanthbea. 



Flowers dioecious, with a 6-parted deciduous calyx ; the sterile ones with 9 

 stamens in 3 rows ; the anthers all mtrorse, 4-celled, 4-valved : fertile flowers 



