342 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



Stem 80-100 feet high, fastigiately branched at summit ; the trunk 2-4 feet, or more, 

 in diameter, often abruptly and much enlarged at base ; the creeping or spreading roots 

 protruding a number of large conical hollow Icnohs above the surface of the ground. 

 Leaves one-third to half an inch long, sublinear, acute, piunately or distichouslv arranged 

 on alternate slender herbaceous branches (which rather reserable common petioles) 1-2 

 or 3 inches in length ; a number of leaves are also solitary, and scattered on the woody 

 branches. 



Swamps, along large streams : Delaware to Louisiana. FL Feb. -April. Fr. Sept. - 

 October. 



Obs. The wood of this noble and remarkable tree is soft, fine grained 

 and exceedingly durable. For many years it supplied the market with 

 those valuable roofing materials called " Cedar shingles ; but since 

 these have become rather scarce and dear, they have been extensively 

 superseded by shingles made of the TVhite Pine (Pinus Strobus, L.), 

 which make a reasonably good substitute at a much less price. 



7. JUNIP'ERUS, L. Juniper. 



[The classical name.] 



Flowers dioecious, — or rarely monoecious on distinct branches. Stami- 

 NATE AMEXTS axillary or subterminal, ovoid, very small. Anther-cells 

 3-6, attached to the lower edge of the shield-shaped scale. Fertile 

 AMEXTS axillary, ovoid, bracteate at base ; scales fleshy ; in fruit form- 

 ing a sort of berry, scaly-bracted at base, 1 - 3-ovuled. Seeds 1-3, 

 angular, bony. Cotyledons 2. Shrubs or trees with awl-shaped or scale- 

 like evergreen rigid leaves, often of two kinds. 



L J. commu'llis, L. Leaves in threes, linear-awl-shaped, spreading, 

 prickly-pointed, concave and glaucous above. 



Common Juxiperus. Juniper. 



stem 6-10 feet high, with numerous erect branches or prostrate and spreading. Leaves 

 of an inch long, sharp-pointed, bright green beneath. Staminate aments 2-3 lines 

 in length, russet-colored. Fruit a dark purple, about the size of a pea. 

 Dry rocky hills : New Jersey and northward. 



Obs. This shrub is common both to Europe and this country : there 

 are several varieties, the most common with us is the prostrate form. 

 The long branches extend in every direction, close to the surface of the 

 earth, forming large beds 10-15 feet in diameter and not more than 

 two feet high. In some parts of New England where it abounds, it is 

 a troublesome plant, as it is very difficult to extirpate it ; it is commonly 

 destroyed by burning. The berries are used to flavor Gin, or Geneva, 

 and the oil from them is sometimes used in medicine. ^ 



2. J. Virginia'na, L. Leaves in four rows, — on young plants and 

 rapidly growing shoots, awl-shaped and somewhat spreading in pairs 

 and threes — on the older ones very small and scale-like, triangular-ovate. 



YiRGixiAX Juxiperus. Red Cedar. 



