The Shrubs of North Carolina 25 



bark at the base of the trunk pulverizes naturally, and is much 

 used as a styptic and in applications to old -ulcers. 



(Buckleya distichophylla, Torr.) — A smooth shrub, about 6 

 feet high, with slender grayish branches, known only upon the 

 streams of this State that flow westward, as the Pigeon and 

 French Broad Rivers. Its thin delicate foliage reminds one by 

 its general aspect of the English and Catalonian Jasmine of our 

 gardens. The flowers are greenish and inconspicuous. The 

 fruit is about i/2 i ncn l° n &> growing solitary on the end of a 

 branch. 



(Darbya umbellulata, Gray.) — Like the preceding, a very rare 

 plant, as yet known only in two or three localities in Georgia, and 

 in the bend of the Catawba, near Lincolnton, in this State. It is 

 1 to 2 feet high, with opposite branches and leaves, the latter 

 ovate, acute, entire, 1 to 2 inches long, 1 to 11/2 wide, rounded 

 at base, and with short foot-stalks. The flowers are small, green- 

 ish, in a cluster of 3 to 8, which is borne on a foot-stalk in the 

 forks of the leaves. 



Witch Hazel. (Hamamelis Virginica, Linn.) — Well known 

 by this name through the State. It has the peculiarity of flower- 

 ing late in the Fall after the leaves have dropped, and maturing 

 its fruit in the following Spring. Its popular name is derived 

 from the use made of its branches in discovering hidden springs 

 of water, minerals, etc. Other kinds, as of the Peach, are indeed 

 sometimes used for this purpose, but I venture to affirm that none 

 in the whole vegetable kingdom are better than those of Witch 

 Hazel. 



Dwarf Alder. (Fothergilla alnifolia, Linn.) — Unknown north 

 of Virginia. In this State it is found from the coast to Lincoln. 

 In the Lower District it is 1 to 2 feet high, often but a single un- 

 branched stem, terminated by a tuft of small white flowers be- 

 fore the leaves appear. It grows here upon 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 shrub- 

 by 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 



