404 THE CATKIN FAMILY. [Myrica. 



1. M. Gale, Linn. (fig. 910). Sweet G.—An erect shrub, of 2 or 3 

 feet, fragrant when rubbed. Leaves deciduous, cuneate-oblong or 

 lanceolate, slightly toothed towards the top, and often rather downy 

 underneath. Catkins sessile along the ends of the branches ; the 

 males scarcely 6 lines long, with spreading concave, shining scales ; 

 the females much shorter, the long styles protruding from the scales. 

 Fruiting catkins somewhat lengthened; the globular, resinous nuts 

 scarcely above a line in diameter. 



In bogs and wet moors in northern and Arctic Europe, Asia, and 

 America. Abundant in Scotland, northern England and Ireland, 

 rarer in the south and east of England. Fl. spring, before the leaves 

 are out. 



II. ALNUS. ALDER 



Flowers monoecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, usually pendu- 

 lous, with broad, almost sessile scales. Stamens 12 within each scale, 

 the anthers on very short filaments, with a small scale under each, 

 usually forming 3 distinct, nearly regular, 4-cleft perianths. Female 

 catkins short, closely imbricated ; the scales entire, with 2, rarely 3, 

 smaller inner scales. Ovaries 2 within each scale, 2-celled, with a 

 pendulous ovule in each cell. Styles 2. Fruiting catkin ovoid, the 

 scales (formed of the catkin-scale, with the 2 inner ones combined) 

 hard, almost woody, remaining after the nuts have fallen. Nuts small 

 and seed-like, without wings. 



A small genus, confined to the northern hemisphere, closely con- 

 nected with Betula through some intermediate exotic species. 



1. A. glutinosa, Linn. (fig. 911). Common A. — A moderate-sized 

 tree, of a dark hue. Leaves stalked, broadly ovate or orbicular, sharply 

 toothed, and occasionally lobed, glabrous or with a little down in 

 the axils of the veins on the under side. Catkins 2 or 3 together, in 

 terminal clusters or small panicles ; the males long, loose, and droop- 

 ing ; the females not half an inch long, with the styles slightly pro- 

 truding. In the fruiting catkin the scales are not unlike those of a 

 miniature fir-cone. 



In wet woods, borders of streams, and wet pastures, in Europe and 

 western Asia, not extending to the Arctic Circle. Abundant in Britain. 

 FL early spring, before the leaves are fully out, the catkins having been 

 formed the previous autumn. 



III. BETULA. BIECH. 



Flowers monoecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, usually pendu- 

 lous, with broad, shortly stalked scales. Stamens 8 to 12 within each 

 scale, the anthers on very short filaments, the cells distinct, some with 

 a small scale underneath, and all irregularly arranged in 3 flowers. 

 Female catkins cylindrical and compact, each scale with 2 small 

 scales inside, and 3, rarely more, flowers. No perianth. Ovary flat, 

 with 2 styles and 2 cells, with a pendulous ovule in each. In the fruit- 

 ing catkin the scales (formed of the catkin-scale, with the 2 inner 

 ones combined) are somewhat enlarged and 3 -lobed, falling off with 



