26 The Shrubs of North Carolina 



or gravelly hills of the Upper and Middle Districts, but is oc- 

 casionally 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 candles. 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. 



1. Hazel Nut. (Corylus Americana, Walt.) — A shrub 4 to 8 

 feet high, found in our mountains, and extending north to New 

 England. The nut is much esteemed, but is smaller and harder 

 shelled than the European Hazel or Filbert (C. Avellana). 



2. Beaked Hazel Nut. (C. rostrata, Ait.) — Of similar size 

 and range with the preceding ; but this has the husk of the fruit 

 prolonged into a beak or horn, and it extends into the Middle 

 District as far down as Orange. 



The remaining shrubs are so various in their fruit and general 

 habit, that, to save space, they are here grouped miscellaneously 

 together, most of them being well known by their popular names. 



Button Bush. Box. (Cephalanthus occidentalis, Linn.) — 

 Common on the borders of streams and swampy grounds in the 

 Lower and Middle Districts, always easily recognized by its 

 round head of small white flowers, which is about an inch in 

 diameter. It is 3 to 4 feet high, and very pretty when in blossom. 

 The inner bark of the roots is an agreeable bitter, and is used for 

 relieving obstinate coughs. 



1. Shrubby Trefoil. Hop Tree. (Ptelea trifoliata, Linn.) — 

 A shrub 4 to 8 feet high, belonging to the upper part of the 

 Middle District, with trifoliate leaves like those of Clover, the 

 leaflets 2 to 3 inches long, somewhat hairy when young, pale on 

 the underside. The flowers are small, greenish-white, in rather 

 flat clusters, heavy-scented, which are succeeded by flat, winged 

 fruit, like that of the Elm, but an inch broad. The fruit is bitter, 

 and used as a substitute for Hops. 



2. Downy Hop Tree. (P. mollis, M. A. C.) — Every way- 

 smaller than No. 1, and found only in the Lower District. Its 

 leaves are more rigid, and the underside covered with a perma- 

 nent, white, soft, silky down. 



