CHAP. C1X.

iV/YIUCA'CE^!. COMPTO 'HIJ.

2059

a native of Madeira and the Azores. Introduced in 1777, by Mr.

Masson, and flowering in June and July. There are plants atMessrs. Loddiges’s.

M. serrata Lam. Encyc., 2. p. 593., N. Du Ham., 2. p. 192.;

M. asthiopica Lin. Syst., 884., Reich. 4. p.424.; M. coniferaBurm. Prod., 27., Pluk. Phyt., t. 48. f. 8. Leaves linear-lanceo-late, pointed, deeply and somewhat doubly serrated. {Lam.

Encyc.) An upright-growing evergreen shrub, about 2 ft. high, ;with very glabrous leaves, of a beautiful green-; the old onessomewhat drooping. The name alludes to the serratures of theleaves, which are very deep and open. The berries resemblethose of M. cerifera ; but they are black when quite ripe, andpreserve a point at the summit. A native of the Cape of GoodHope. Introduced by Mr. F. Masson, in 1793.

M. q uercifblia Lin. Sp. PI., 1453., Reich., 4. p. 424., Burm. FI.

Ind., t. 98. f. 1., Hort. Cliff!, 456., Pluk. Aim., t.424., N. DuHam., 2. p. 193., Lara. Encyc., 2. p. 593., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836;

Laurus africdna, &c., Com. Hort., 2. t. 81., Rail Supp, Dend .,

85.; has the leaves ovate-wedge-shaped, sinuate, serrated, blunt-

ish ; the divisions often angular. {La?n. Encyc.) A shrub, 2ft. or3ft high,with numerous reddishand slightly tomentose branches. The leaves are quite smooth, and dotted. A native of the Cape;flowering in June and July. Introduced before 1752, as it was cultivated in that year by Miller.

M. q. hirsiita Mill. Diet., Ait. Hort. Kew., edit. 2., v. p. 380., only differs from the preceding inhaving the leaves hairy.

M. cordijblia Lin. Sp., 1454., Reich., 4. p. 245., Hort Cliff!, 456., Pluk. Phyt., t. 319. f. 7., N. Du

T — m O *1 TJ /\ir Ii. /i^li IttW ■ A 11\. a— nt Ann //1» /.!. f \ I! . .1 * TT . ... c\ a. A ~ .. . 1.

„ , capensis j_ .. ,_,

the leaves somewhat cordate, serrate, sessile. (Lin.) An upright-growing evergreen shrub, withwand-like branches; downy and reddish when young, and much leafed; according to the NouveauDu Hamel, the most ornamental species of the genus. The leaves are numerous, small, heart-shaped, and dentated. It flowers in May and June. The berries are ratherlarger than those of M. cerifera. A native of the Cape, cultivated 1759, by Miller.

Thunberg, in his Travels, says : “ The branches of the wax shrub (Myrica cordi-fblia), the berries of which are covered with a fat substance, resembling bees* wax,were put whole into a pot of boiling water, in order to melt and skim off the wax.

It resembles grey impure wax, is harder than tallow, and somewhat softer than vwax. The farmers use it for candles ; and the Hottentots eat it like a piece ofbread, with or without meat.” {Thunberg's Travels, i. p. 167.) We have littledoubt that this species would thrive against a conservative wall.

App. ii. Half-hardy Species of~M.yrica notyet introduced.

M. spathulhta Mirb. Mdm. Mus., 14. p. 474. t. 28. f. 1.; and our fig. 1970.

Leaves spathulate, blunt, quite entire, glabrous. Male catkins sessile, axillary,solitary, shorter than the petioles. A tree, with smooth, cylindrical branches.

Leaves 1 in. to 2£ in. long, and | in. to 1 in. broad. Found in Madagascar byM. Perodet.

Genus II.

1970

COMPTO'N7/i Banks. The Comptonia. Lin. Syst. Monoe'cia Triandria,

Identification. Gsertn. Fruct., 1. p. 58.; N. Du Ham., 2. p. 45.

Synonymes. Liquidambar Lin. Sp. ; Myrica Lin. Hort. Cliff'., 456., Gron. Virg., 2. p. 155.; GalePetiv. Mus., 773.; Comptone, Fr. ; Comptonie, Ger.

Derivation. Named in honour of Henry Compton, Bishop of London, the introducer and cultivatorof many curious exotic plants, and one of the greatest patrons of botany and gardening of his time.

Description, Sfc. A low evergreen shrub, a native of North America, inmoist peaty soils, nearly allied to A/yrica. Only one species has hithertobeen described.

* 1. C. .isPLENiFo'LiA Banks. The Asplenium-leaved Comptonia.

Identification. Ait. Hort. Kew., 3. p. 334.; Gsertn. Fruct, 1. p. 58.; L’Herit. Stirp., nov. ed., 2.t. 58. ; N. Du Ham., 2. p. 46.; Dend. Brit., t. 166. ; Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 635. : Lodd.Cat., ed. 1836.

Synonymes. Liquidambar usplenifblium Lin. Sp., 1418., Du Ham. Arb., 1. p. 366.; L. peregrinumLin. Syst., 860., Reich., 4 p. 171. ; A/yrlca£m. Hort. Cliff:, 456, Gron. Virg., 155., Cold. Noveb.,Vlt-.Mill. Diet., No. 4.; Gale marihna Ret. Mus., 713. : Mf rtus brabanticas affinis Pluk. Phyt.,1.100. f. 6, 7.; The sweet Fern Bush, Amer.

Engravings. Pluk. Phyt., t. 100, f. 6, 7. ; N. Du Ham., t. 11.; Dend. Brit., t. 166. ; and our fig.

Spec. Char., fc. Leaves long, linear, alternate, crenately pinnatifid.( Willd. Sp. PI., iv. p. 320.) A deciduous shrub, 3 ft. or 4 ft. high. The young