MONOECIA TRIANDRIA 521 



simnle, onic-obtong, or tapering to the apex, oblique. Fruit a small ovoid acu- 



inmate suberose 1- (or sometimes 2-) seeded drupe. 



Hub. Sluggish rivulets, ditches, <fcc. frequent. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This appears to me to be very nearly related to a sj>ecimen of S. simplex, 

 which I have received from France. I have specimens, also, collected at Wynn ? s 

 Meadows, in 1334, by Mr. Joshua Hoopes, which are allied to this,— but are much 

 smaller and mnre slender,— apparently intermediate between S. americanum and 

 S nutans;— and may, pv>ssibly, be distinct from both. The stem is 4 or 5 to 9 inch- 

 t3 Ui"h, simple, slender, flexuose at summit ; the leaves 4 to 12 or 15 inches long, 

 and 2 to 3 lines wide, sublincar, much overtopping the stem ; staminate heads 2 to 

 4 or 3 ; pistillate heals I to 3, 1 third to half an inch in diameter ; stigma simple, 

 sjmewhat tapering, much shorter than the style. I find it in Mr. NtUtalVs Herba- 

 rium, in the Philad. Academy, under the name of S. an gust {folium ; but that name 

 has been appropriated to the American variety of S. natans,— which seems to me 

 to be a different plant. If ours should prove to be specifically distinct, it might 

 be called S.pumilum. Two additional species are enumerated in the U. States. 



418. COMPTOXIA. Gxrtn. J\ m utt. Gen. 735. 

 [In honor of Henry Compton, Bishop of London ; who was a collector of Plants.] 



Staxixate Fl. Anient cylindric, imbricated; scales reniform-cordate, 

 acuminate, 1 -flowered. Perianth 2-parted, shorter than the scale. 

 Stamens 3, forked; anther* 6. Pistillate Fl. Ament globose; 

 scales !«flowered. Perianth 6-parted, much longer than the scale. 

 Styles 2. Jfui ovoid-oblong, 1 -celled, valveless. 



Shrubby: leaves alternate, stipular, pinnalifid, resembling the partial fronds 

 of a km. Nat. Ord. 8G. Lindl. Mvriceje. 



1. C. asplexifolia, Ait. Leaves linear-lanceolate, irregularly crcn- 

 ate-pinnatifid, subsessile. Beck, But. p. 324. 

 Liquidambar asplenifolia. Marsh. Arbust. p. 77. 



Asplexium-leaved Comptoxia. Vulgb — Sweet Fern. 



Stem 18inche8 to 3 feet high, slender, much branched, young branches pubes- 

 cent. Leaves 1 to 4 inches long, and 1 fourth to 2 thirds of an inch wide, rather 

 acute at each end, irregularly and crenately incised almost to the midrib, pubes- 

 cent, sprinkled with resinous particles, paler beneath, on a very short petiole ; 

 stipules lanceolate, acuminate, semi-sagittate, or auriculate, pubescent. Staminate 

 aments 3 fourths of an inch to an inch and half long, cylindric, 2 or 3 lines in 

 diameter; scales conspicuously acuminate, pubescent, sprinkled with resinous 

 particles. Pistillate aments globose, or roundish-ovoid, half an inch to 3 quarters 

 in diameter; divisions of the perianth subulate-linear, roughish-pubescent, giving 

 the globose cluster the appearance of a bur. Nut oval, or ovoid-oblong, smooth 

 and shining, of a leaden or dingy brow^ color. 

 Hob. Dry hills; Mica-slate range ^frequent. Fl. April. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This little shrub is abundant on our dry slaty hills ; but rare elsewhere. 

 The bruised leaves emit a strong resinous aromatic odor ; and the plant is repu- 

 ted medicinal. The ioAision is a popular remedy in Dysentery. It if the only 

 known species of toe genus. 



[Scleria. Carex. Triandria Monogynia.] 



[Zea. Tripsacum. Triandria Digynia.'] 



[Urtica pumila. Order Tetrandria, of this Class.] 



CPhyllanthua. Ordsr Monadelphia, of this Class.'] 



44* 



