PLATE XLIII.

Fig. 1. Myrica cerifera, with fruit not fully ripe.

Fig. 2. A barren branch in flower.

Fig. 3. Fertile ditto in flower.

Fig. 4. A barren flower.

Fig. 5. The same with the scale turned down, shewing the mode

of growth of the anthers.

Fig. 6. Fertile flower.

Fig. 7. Fruit somewhat magnified.

Suniperus communis

JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS.

Common Juniper.

PLATE XLIV.*

THE prostrate variety of the common Juniper is so peculiar in its mode of growth, that it has some claims to be considered a distinct species. On comparing it, however, with European specimens, I find the similarity so great, that I do not see sufficient grounds for separating it, especially as there are, in Europe, several varieties in size and mode of growth, which are not recognized as separate species. The variety, which is the only one I have met with in the Northern States, is a large trailing shrub, continually throwing out roots from its branches, and spreading in all directions until it forms beds, which are many rods in circumference. In this In this way it continues to advance outward, supporting itself by new roots even after the original trunks, at the centre,

* Very beautiful drawings, from which this and the following plate are engraved, were sent me by a lady in Hampshire county.

are dead and decayed. It seldom rises more than two or three feet from the ground.

The genus Juniperus belongs to the class Diœcia, order Monadelphia, and natural order Conifera of Linnæus and Jussieu. It is distinguished by an ovate ament with peltate scales, which, in the barren flowers, are whorled in threes, with from two to four anthers; in the fertile ones opposite. Berry three seeded.-In the common Juniper, the leaves are ternate, spreading, mucronate, larger than the berry.

The Juniper is with us always a shrub, never rising into a tree. The tips of the branches are smooth and angular. The leaves grow in threes and are linear-acerose, sharply mucronate, shining green on their lower surface, but with a broad glaucous line through the centre of the upper. These leaves, however, are always resupinate, and turn their upper surface toward the ground. The barren flowers grow in small axillary aments, with roundish, acute, stipitate scales, inclosing several anthers. The fertile flowers, growing on a separate shrub, have a small, three parted calyx growing to the germ; and three styles. The fruit is a fleshy, roundish, oblong berry, of a dark purplish colour, formed of the germ and confluent calyx, marked with three prominences or