9922 WOODY PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 
FAMILY VI. THE WAX MYRTLE FAMILY. MYRICACES. 
LINDLEY. 
A family of about thirty species of leafy, aromatic shrubs 
with resinous glands and dots, and alternate, simple, entire 
leaves, found in all climates. It has a near affinity to the 
birch family, differing in its ovaries having only one cell, and 
in the character of its leaves. Some species produce eatable 
and agreeably acidulous fruits; the greater part have their fruit 
covered with tubercles of a resinous substance similar to wax. 
The species found in this country are low, fragrant shrubs, 
remarkable for their tonic, aromatic, and astringent properties. 
The male and female aments are on the same or on distinct 
plants; the male, cylindrical or thread-like, formed of bract-like 
scales, with from two to eight stamens in each flower; the 
female, ovate, sessile, densely imbricate ; with ovaries one-celled, 
and contaiming one ovule, with two, long, thread-hke stigmas. 
The fruit is a drupaceous, one-seeded nut. 
We have two genera, the Myrtle, distinguished by its resin- 
ous or waxy berries; and the Sweet Fern, by its globular, com- 
pound fruit, with shining nuts set in bristling scales. 
VI. 1. THE MYRTLE. MYRICA. L. 
Male and female flowers on distinct plants. Scales of the 
aments crescent-shaped. Stamens four. Fruit drupaceous. 
Leaves wedge-lance-shaped. 
Sp. 1. Tue Sweer Gare. Durex Myrriz. Myrica gale. L. 
A dark-looking bush from two to five feet high, growing in 
places which are inundated through a part of the year, and 
forming large, close-tangled patches or islets. 
The branches and upper part of the stem are of a rich dark 
purple color, polished and shining. On older stems and lower, 
the outer bark cracks and rolls horizontally, becoming rough 
and of a lighter color, but still somewhat shining, giving the 
