cute, nearly entire leaflets, whitened beneath;
with an aromatic though unpleasant odor. Branches obtusely 4-sided,
hairy; flowers pale lilac, in interrupted panicles, agreeably
sweet-scented in late summer. Shrub or small tree, 5 to 10 ft. high,
cultivated from southern Europe; hardy at Washington and south. If
cultivated further north, it needs protection, at least when young.

ORDER =XXXIII. LAURACEAE.= (LAUREL FAMILY.)

An order of aromatic trees and shrubs, chiefly tropical.

GENUS =68. PERSEA.=

Aromatic, evergreen trees with alternate, entire, feather-veined leaves.
Flowers small, in small close panicles. Fruit small (1/2 in.) 1-seeded
drupes.

[Illustration: P. Carolinensis.]

=Persea Carolinensis=, Nees. (RED BAY.) Leaves 2 to 5 in. long, oblong,
entire, covered with a fine down when young, soon smooth above. Flowers
silky, in small rounded clusters on short stems. May. Fruit an ovate,
pointed, 1-seeded, deep-blue drupe, 1/2 in. long, on a red stalk; ripe in
autumn. Usually a small tree, 15 to 70 ft. high, wild in swamps,
Delaware, Virginia, and south. Wood reddish, beautiful, hard, strong,
durable.

GENUS =69. SASSAFRAS.=

Aromatic trees or shrubs with alternate, simple, deciduous, often lobed
leaves. Juice of bark and leaves mucilaginous. Flowers yellowish-green,
in clusters; blooming in early spring. Fruit a small bluish drupe on a
thick reddish stem. Ripe in September. Twigs greenish-yellow.

[Illustration: S. officinale.]

=Sassafras officinale=, Nees. (SASSAFRAS.) Leaves very variable in form,
ovate, entire, or some of them 2- to 3-lobed, soon smooth. Flowering as
the leaves are putting forth. Tree 15 to 100 ft. high, common in rich
woods. The aromatic fragrance is strongest in the bark of the roots.
Wood reddish, rather hard and durable.

GENUS =70. LINDERA.=

Shrubs with deciduous, alternate, aromatic leaves and small, yellow
flowers in close clusters along the branches. Fruit a drupe on a
not-thickened stalk.

[Illustration: L. Benzoin.]

=Lindera Benzoin=, Blume. (SPICE-BUSH. BENJAMIN-BUSH.) Leaves alternate,
oblong-ovate, entire, pale beneath, very spicy in odor and taste; twigs
green; leaf-buds scaly; drupes red, ripe in autumn. Flowers 4 to 5
together in sessile umbels; in early spring, before the leaves expand.
Common in damp woods throughout.

ORDER =XXXIV. ELAEAGNACEAE.=

(OLEASTER FAMILY.)

A small order of shrubs or small trees, with the leaves covered with
si