MYRICACEiE. 



67 



Equisetum. A few species have been introduced into the 

 greenhouse here as curiosities : as C. equisetifolia, nodiflora, 

 glauca, quadrivalvis, etc. etc., from Australia, and muricata, 

 from the East Indies. 



MYRICACE2E. 



Exogens, with the stamens and pistils in different flowers, and 

 in catkins ; the stamens are from two to eight, generally in the 

 axil of a scale-like bract ; of the fertile flower the ovary is one- 

 celled, surrounded by several scales. Fruit drupaceous, often 

 covered with waxy secretions. The leaves are alternate and sim- 

 ple. — Aromatic, leafy shrubs or small trees, covered with re- 

 sinous glands and dots ; found in temperate parts of North 

 America, the tropics of South America, the.Cape, and India. 



MYKICA. (Candlebeeiiy Myrtle.) 



Gen. Char. {Bioecia Tetrandria.) Barren flower — scales of the 

 catkin concave ; fertile the same, the styles two, and drupe one- 

 celled, one-seeded. 



The name is said to be derived from the Greek for to 

 flow, because the plants are found on inundated spots. Some 

 of the species of this genus are hardy ; a few require the 

 greenhouse, and are sometimes introduced, as they are 



