404. THE CATKIN FAMILY. [ Myrica. 
the ovary, with two lateral, projecting lobes. Stigmas 2, linear. Fruit a 
small, resinous or nearly drupe-like, globular nut, with 1 erect seed. 
A genus of several species, dispersed over the temperate regions of the 
elobe, or the mountainous parts of the tropics. Associated with two or 
three small North American or South African genera, it forms a distinct 
tribe, approaching Hippophae in the 2-lobed female perianth and almost 
drupe-like nut. 3 
1. M. Gale, Linn. (fig. 908). Sweet Gale.—An erect shrub, of 2 or 3 
feet, fragrant when rubbed. Leaves deciduous, cuneate-oblong or lanceo- 
late, 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. 1. spring, before the leaves are out. 
Il. ALNUS. ALDER. 
Flowers moneecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, usually pendulous, 
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 connected 
with Betula through some intermediate exotic species. 
], 4. glutinosa, Linn. (fig. 909). Common Alder.—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 ter- 
minal clusters or small panicles; the males long, loose, and drooping; the 
females not half an inch long, with the styles slightly protruding. 
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. 
Fil. early spring, before the leaves are fully out, the catkins having been 
Sormed the previous autumn. 
ems 
Il. BETULA. BIRCH. 
Flowers moneecious, the males in cylindrical catkins, usually pendulous, 
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 
