BETULA 



311 



Myrka and Comptdnia. Wax ' Myktle ' (548J — Myrica cerlfera, — 

 Sweet Gale (549) — Myrica GMe, — Waxbekky or Baybeeky (550) — 

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

 asplenif blia, — are fragrant plants' with alternate simple leaves, inconspic- 

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

 shrubs 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 Gitle. 

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

 (550) or Batbeery — Myrica carolin^nsis. 

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

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



B^tula. 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. 



Fig. 553. — Scrub Birch. 



