CXCIX. MYEICE^. 



681 



FlatanecB are near Balsamifhus, which are, however, distinguished by their balsamic juice, conical 

 involucrate catkins, 2-styled ovary with 2-niany-ovuled cells, sub-anatropous ovules and capsular fruit. 

 PlatanecB also approach HamanielidecB (see page 410), and have some affinity with GarryacecB in inflores- 

 cence, diclinism, 1 or 2 pendulous ovules, styles stigmatic throughout their length, and straight axile 

 embryo ; but Garryacete differ in the clearly tetrandrous flower with 4 sepals, the anatropous ovule, 

 abundant albumen, berried fruit, opposite penninerved leaves, &c. [The affinities of Platanem are rather 

 with the Amentaceous families, not with the families enumerated above.] 



Platanees are natives of Mediterranean Asia and North America, but are cultivated as ornamental 

 trees in temperate regions throughout the world. They possess a slightly astringent property [but are 

 chiefly valuable for their timber and ornamental appearance. P. oiientalis attains a gigantic size and 

 immense age]. 



CXCIX. MYRICE^. 



(Amentaoeaeum fafs, Jussieu. — Mteioe^, L.-G. Richard. — MTRiCACEiB, Lindl.) 



Flowers diclinous, spicate, achlamydeous, sessile in the axil of a hract. Stamens 

 2-16. OvAKT with 2-4 scales at the hase, l-celled, 1-ovuled; ovule sessile, basilar, 

 orthotropous. Feuit a d/rwpe, succulent, waxy. Seed erect, exalhuminous. Embrto 

 straight. — Stem woody. Leaves alternate. 



Undershrubs, shrttbs or trees with scattered cylindrical unjointed branclies. 

 Buds scaly, solitary. Leaves alternate, simple, usually serrated, sometimes cut or 

 pinnatifid, rarely entire, stiff or coriaceous when dry, usually sprinkled with globose 

 or discoid ceraceous odoriferous particles, midrib giving off anastomosing veins ; 

 stipules (except in Gomptonia). Flo-wers monoecious or dioecious, in axillary 

 simple or compound catkins, and forming close [open ?] spikes ; catkins of the 

 monoecious species 2-sexual, and bearing the $ at the base, and ? at the top. — 

 Flowers $ : Perianth 0. Stamens 2-16, sessile in the axil of a bract, naked or 

 furnished with 2 lateral bracteoles, often accompanied by several flowerless bracteoles; 

 filaments free, connate at the base ; anthers extrorse, basifixed, sub-didymous, dehis- 

 cence longitudinal. — Flowers ? in ovoid or cylindric catkins, ebracteate. , Ovary 

 sessile in the axil of the bract, furnished at the base with, and more or less adnate to 



Myrica cah/ornka. 



