158 MR. G. BENTHAM ON MniTACE.T!, 



6. Calycampej 2 Guiana species, only differing from Myrcia 

 proper in the calyx-lobes being separated by broader sinnses. 



Marlieria, Camb., is another American tropical and subtro- 

 pical genus, with the biovulate ovary-cells and inflorescence of 

 Myrcia and CalyptrantheSj but with the calyx-limb quite closed 

 over the petals in the bud, or only Avith minute lobes at the tops, 

 and splitting valvately as the flower opens, as in Psidiicm. Berg 

 enumerates 57 species (probably reducible to about 30), which he 

 distributes in three genera, Marlieria, Rubachia, and Eitgeniopsis^ 

 according to whether the calyx-limb is quite closed in the bud or 

 shows 4 or 5 very suiall imbricate lobes. The petals are some- 

 times reduced or wanting as in Calyptranthes. 



Caltptkanthes, Swartz, like Marlieria^ has the ovary and 

 seed of Myrcia, but is distinguished by the calyx; its limb is 

 entire and closed over the petals in the bud as in Marlieria, but, 

 instead of splitting longitudinally as the flower opens, it falls off 

 in a. single operculum, circumsciss at the base. The petals also, as 

 in several Marlierice, are reduced to a very small size, or altogether 

 wanting. Berg enumerates 73 species, all from tropical America. 

 Among them we have temporarily included Mitranthes, Berg, a 

 small group (8 species, according to Berg) differing from the 

 typical Calyptranthes in their more numerous ovules. The ripe 

 seed is unknown. Berg conjectures it to be that of Hugenia ; the 

 immature one which I was able to examine in M. Gardncriana, Berg, 

 seemed to me to be rather that of the Myrtus group. Should this 

 prove to be really the case, Mitranthes would, we think, most 

 conveniently rank as a section of Calyptranthes. If, on the other 

 hand, it has the embryo of Eugenia, we should probably, notwith- 

 standing the difference of country, have to regard it, with Acica- 

 TfptuSy as a section of Eugenia^ or as an adjoining genus. 



Pimenta, Lindl., consists of very few species (5 according to 

 Berg), from tropical America, one of them much cultivated m 

 various tropical countries under the name of Pimento or Allspice, 

 whence the generic name, although very different from the plants 

 so generally known on the continent of Europe under the name 

 Piment, which are all species or varieties of Capsicum. The Myrta- 

 ceous Pimenta has the habit, inflorescence, and embr}'0 of the 

 PseudocaryopTiyllus group of Myrtus, but is very different in the 

 structure of the ovary ; the ovules, few in number (1 to 4 or per- 

 haps, 6 in each cell) are attached to a placenta suspended from 

 the apex of the cavity, whilst in all the great Myrtoid genera the 

 placenta is adnate to the centre of the dissepiment or to the inner 



