THE SHRUBS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 171 



the borders of Pine-barren swamps, and is rarely 

 much branched. In the Middle District it is found 

 upon rocky hills, is 3 to 5 feet high, forming a 

 branched straggling shrub. The foliage varies a 

 good deal, so that several species have been made of 

 it by some authors; but the leaves are generally not 

 unlike those of Alder. The fruit is a hard capsule, 

 like that of Witch Hazel, and, like that, bursting 

 elastically and expelling the hard bony seeds to a 

 considerable distance. 



Sweet Fern. (Comptonia asplenifolia, Ait.) — 

 A small shrubby plant, 1 or 2 feet high, with leaves 

 (3 or 4 inches long) much resembling some of the 

 Ferns, and possessing a grateful aromatic odor like 

 that of the Wax Myrtle. It is found chiefly on rocky 

 or gravelly hills of the Upper and Middle Districts, 

 but is occasionally found in dry and sandy woods in 

 the upper part of the Lower. An infusion of this 

 plant is a popular remedy for dysentery. 



Wax Myrtle. Candle-berry Myrtle. (Myrica 

 cerifera, Linn.) — A well-known shrub with fragrant 

 leaves, common in the Lower District, and found in 

 fruit from 1 to 18 feet in height. The small berry- 

 like nuts, which often hang two or three years on 

 the branches, are covered with a fragrant wax which 

 has been used in the manufacture of soap and can- 

 dles. The latter burn long and diffuse an agreeable 

 odor. A decoction of the berries has been used for 

 tetters and similar affections. The root is said to 

 be a specific for tooth-ache. 



