BETULA 



311 



Myrica and Compt6nia. Wax 'Myrtle' (548) — Myrica cerffera, — 

 Sweet Gale (549) — Myrica Gale, — Waxberry or Bayberry (550) — 

 Myrica carolin^nsis, — and Sweet ' Fern ' (551) — Myrica (Comptonia) 

 asplenifblia, — are fragrant plants with alternate simple leaves, inconspic- 

 uous flowers, and waxy or bur-like dry globular fruits. They are wild 

 shnibs rare in cultivation. The Sweet ' Fern ' receives its name from the 

 fern-like appearance of its leaves and is useful to cover, with its dense 

 foliage, rocky barren and shady places. [Seeds ; layers ; twig cuttings.] 



* Leaves narrow and notched like a fern ; fruit bur-like. Sweet 



' Fern' (551) — Myrica (Comptonia) asplenifblia. 



* Leaves entire or with few notches ; fruit globular, waxy. (A.) 



A. Low shrubs always less than 10 feet high; leaves usually blunt at 

 tip. (B.) 

 B. Twigs dark brown ; leaves small, 1-2J inches long. Sweet 



Gale (549) — Myrica Gaie. 

 B. Twigs gray ; leaves larger, 2-4 inches long. Waxberry 

 (550) or Bayberry — Myrica carolin^nsis. 

 A. Tall shrvib, sometimes a small tree to 40 feet ; leaves generally 

 with acute tips. Wax ' Myrtle ' (548) — Myrica certfera. 



BItula. The Birches are mainly tall hardy trees but there are several 

 species shrubby in growth and frequent in cultivation. The birches have 

 alternate simple straight-veined notched leaves, sometimes cut into lobes. 



Fig. 552. — European White Birch. 



FiQ. 553,— Scrub Birch. 



