MvRICA. 



MYRICACEiE. 



197 



longer than the nut. — Linn. sp. (ed. 2.) 2. p. 14:33 ; Engl. hot. t. 562 ; Michx. ft. 2. p. 227 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 2. p. 620 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 366 ; Torr. compend. p. 372 ; Beck, hot. p. 324. 



A shrub 3-5 feet high, much branched. Leaves about two inches long and 5-6 lines 

 wide, somewhat coriaceous, with several sharp serratures at the summit. Aments growing 

 from the sides of the last year's shoots, appearing before the leaves are expanded. Bracts of 

 the sterile aments brown and shining, slightly fringed with ferruginous hairs. Fruit in oval- 

 oblong heads, which are covered with resinous grains ; the scales lanceolate, acute, and 

 forming an involucre which encloses the nut. 



Borders of ponds and lakes, particularly in mountainous tracts ; rare in the southern part 

 of the State, but common in the northern counties. Fl. April - May. Fr. July. A native 

 also of Europe and the north of Asia. 



2. Myrica cerifera, Linn. Bayberry. Wax Myrtle. 



Leaves cuneate-lanceolate, serrated towards the summit or entire ; sterile aments loose, the 

 bracts naked ; fruit spherical, naked, distinct. — Linn. sp. 2. p. 1453 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 227 ; 

 Pursh, fl. 2. p. 620 ; Bigel. med. hot. t. 43, and fl. Bost. p. 366 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 678 ; Torr. 

 compend. p. 372 ; Beck, hot. p. 324. 



A shrub from 3 to 8 feet high, much branched at the summit. Leaves 2-4 inches long 

 and from half an inch to nearly an inch wide, sometimes entire, pubescent underneath. 

 Flowers appearing before the leaves are fully expanded. Sterile aments about half an inch 

 long, scattered along the sides of the last year's twigs. Bracts rhombic. Stamens mostly 4, 

 longer than the bracts ; the filaments united below : anthers large. Fertile aments smaller 

 than the sterile ones. Ovary ovoid, with about 3 cuneate scales at the base : styles filiform. 

 Fruit aggregated, spherical and about the size of a peppercorn, consisting of a little nut with 

 a hard and thick shell, which is thickly studded over with black hispid deciduous grains, and 

 these again are encrusted with a dry white wax. 



Dry soils, in thickets, etc. ; common in the southern part of the State and on the sandy 

 seacoast of Long Island, but rare in the interior. Fl. May. Fr. August - September. This 

 species differs so much from the preceding, that it might with propriety be separated as the 

 type of a distinct genus. The wax of the fruit consists chiefly of that peculiar ingredient of 

 beeswax called myricin. It is obtained by boiling the berries in water, when it separates and 

 is skimmed from the surface. It is employed for making candles, and as the basis of a kind of 

 soap. In France and Germany, the plant has been cultivated for the sake of its wax. The 

 singular black grains of the fruit are seen to advantage when the crust of wax has been 

 removed from their surface by means of ether. 



