MK. a. liENXUAM ON MVUTACK.E. lOl 



313. Carex steaophylla ?, Whlbg. 



311. Cyperus aristatus, Motth. 



Gkaminkj:;. 



15. Grjmnothrix flaccida. 



12. Hierochloe laxa, Boyle. 

 14, Melica ciliata, i., var. 



13. Agropyrum semicostatum, Nees, 

 0, Elymus europseua ?, J>. 



312, Eottboeilia, species. 



16. Eottboellia, species. 



POLYPOBIAOE^. 



0. Polypodium lineare, TImnh, Chuudra valley above Koksar. 



M. Heyde, collector. 

 303, AUosorus crispua, var. Brunonianus. 

 302. Cystopteris fragilis. This is the common fern of Laliul; 



303 is much less so. 



Notes on Myrtacece. 

 By Geokge Bknti&m:, Esq., F.E,S., Pres. L.S. 



[Read April 19, 1866 and December 19, 1867.] 



The Natural Order of Myrtaceae is one of the most important iu 

 tropical and Australian regions. Scarcely yielding to the Conifers 

 of temperate regions in the gigantic size of some of its trees or 

 in the value of the timber they form, the spices and oils it supplies 

 have long been staple articles of trade. Some of the fruits it pro- 

 duces are highly prized ; and many species are cultivated for or- 

 nament in the plantations of warmer countries as well as in our 

 own conservatories. But, to the botanist, the distinguishing and 

 classifying their numerous species is a task far from giving satis- 

 faction in proportion to the labour it entails. In some cases the 

 uniformity of structure prevailing through hundreds of species is 

 so great as to have induced monographi^^ts to take up the most 

 vague and trifling characters even for generic distinction ; in others 

 the same characters have been found here clearly to separate large 

 undoubtedly distinct groups, and there to be so mixed up and con- 

 founded together in one and the same natural group as to be no 

 longer available for any more than specific distinction. Some, 

 again, of those which, as far as known, appear to be the most con- 

 stant arc rarely supplied by herbarium specimens ; and among the 



