MYRTACE^. 



809 



Melaleuca 



at the apex ; tube adnata to the ovarium (f. 115. a. f. 125. a.). usual, p. 29.) The young flower-buds of Calypfrdnthes aro- 

 Petals equal in number to the lobes of the calyx, inserted in the mdtica have the flavour and quality of cloves, for which they 

 calyx, rarely w^anting; but when present with a quincunical might be advantageously substituted, according to M. Auguste 

 aestivation (f 122. h.). Stamens inserted along with the petals St. Hilaire, pi. usual, no. 14. The volatile oil of cajeputi, or 

 (f. 115. e. f. 123. 6.), and are either twice their number or inde- cajeput oil, is distilled from the leaves oi 

 finite (f. 119, e, f, 123. 6.), usually disposed in many series ; fila- and M. cajepuit, and is well know^n as a powerful sudorific ; and 

 ments distinct (f. 123. ft.), or connected into several parcels (f. 117. is a useful external application in chronic rheumatism. (Ains- 

 e. e.), curved inwards before flowering; anthers ovate, 2-celled, lie, 1. p. 260.). It is considered carminative, cephalic, and em- 

 small, bursting lengthwise (f. 120. c). Ovarium inferior, 2-4-5 menagogue, and is no doubt a highly diffiisible stimulant, anti- 

 or 6-celled : style simple (f. 119, c). Stigma simple. Fruit either spasmodic and diaphoretic, and on that account is used in the cure 

 dry (f. 119, d,) or fleshy (f. 121. e.), dehiscent or indehiscent. of cholera. It has also the power of dissolving caoutchouc. (Ibid.) 

 Seeds usually indefinite, variable in form. Embryo exalbumi- The root of Stravadium racembsum lias a slightly bitter, but not 

 nous, straight or curved, with its cotyledons and radicle distin- unpleasant taste. It is considered by the Hindoo doctors valuable 



T 



guishable, or conferrumlnated into a solid mass. — Trees or on account of its aperient, deobstruent, and cooling properties ; 



shrubs. Leaves usually opposite (rarely alternate, as in Bar-- the bark is supposed to possess properties similar to Cinchona^ 



ringtbnia,)y entire, full of transparent dots, feather-nerved, the (Ibid. 2. p. 65.). A kind of gum is yielded by Eucalyptus re- 



nerves usually running into each other towards the margin, and 



y^ 



forming a vein running parallel with the margin. Inflorescence India. (Ibid. 1. p. 185.) Other s\ieQ\es of Eucalyptus yield 



variable, sometimes on 1-flowered axillary pedicels, sometimes a large quantity of tannin, which has been even extracted from 



on axillary 3-flowered trichotomous cymose peduncles, or the the trees of New Holland, and sent to the English market. The 



peduncles are furnished with many opposite flowers, and termi- leaves of GlaphyWia nitida, called by the Malays the tree of long 



nated by one flower ; sometimes the flowers are sessile and spi- Hfe^ probably from the other trees of the forest having ceased 



cate ; always with 2 opposite bracteas under each flower. to exist, afford at Bencoolcn a substitute for tea, and it is known 



Flowers white, red, occasionally yellow, but never blue. 



by the natives by the name of tea plant. (Lin. trans, 14. 



Myrtacece is one of the most natural among the tribes of p- 129.). 

 plants, and the most easily recognised. Its opposite exstipu- 

 late clothed entire leaves, with a marginal vein, are a certain in- 

 dication of it, with the exception of a few^ plants, which probably Cham 



do not belong to the order, although at present placed in it. It mens dis^ 



is closely allied to RosacecE^ Lythrariicet Onagrarice^ Combre' Fruit dry, 1-celled. 



siS of the 



Tribe I. 

 of calyx 5 

 fertile an 



Petals 5. Sta- 



from the base, fixed 



tacece, and Melastomacece^ but cannot w^ell be confounded with to the centre or to the ^'Omewhat exserted central placenta. 



them or any other tribe. It is distinguished from Lythrariece Heath-like shrubs^ all natives of 



Leaves opposite^ 



in the calyx being adnate to the ovarium, from Combretdccce in dotted. Flowers smally on short joedicels. Bracteas 2 tinder each 



the many-celled ovarium, in the erect or horizontal seeds, not flower, free or joined. 



pendulous, and * in the cotyledons not being convolute; from 1 Ca'lythrix. Calyx drawn out into a cylindrical tube (f. 



Melastornacece in the filaments not being bent abruptly, nor re- 115. a.); lobes ending in a long bristle each (f 115. g.). Sta- 



ceived in vacuities below the recesses of the calyx, as in that mens 10-30, free. Fruit dry, indchiscent, 1-celled. 



order, and in the form of the stamens ; from Onagrhrice in the 2 Darwi'nia. Tube of calyx drawn out into a membranous 



stamens being usually indefinite. The order offers a curious deciduous limb, with its throat dilated. Lobes roundish, cor- 



instance of the facility with which the calyx and corolla can take date. Stamens 10-15, free. Ovarium 1-celled, 1 -ovulate. 



upon themselves the same functions of transformation. In Eu~ 3 Vertico'rdia. Flowers before expansion girded by 2 free 



cahjpfus^ as is well known, the sepals are consolidated into a or concrete bracteas ; lobes of calyx palmately parted into 5-7- 



cup-like lid, called the operculum. In Eudesmia^ a nearly re- lobules. 



lated genus, the calyx remains in its normal state, while the Stigma feathered. Fruit 1 -seeded, 1-celled when mature. 



petals are consolidated into the operculum. The pellucid dot- 4 Cham.elau^cium. Flowers girded by 2 concrete bracteas, 



tings of the leaves, and other parts, indicate the presence of a which terminate each in a dorsal mucrone ; lobes of calyx un- 



fragrant aromatic or pungent volatile oil, which gives the prin- divided, petaloid. Stamens 20, 10 of which are sterile and 



Stamens 20, of which 10 are sterile and ligulate. 



cipal quality to the products of the order. To this are to be 

 attributed the grateful perfume of the Guava fruit, the powerful 



ligulate. 



Stigma capitate. Ovarium 1-celled, 5-6-ovulate. 



5 Genety'llis. Flowers girded by 2 distinct bracteas ; 



scent of the flower-buds of Caryophyllus arotndticus, called in lobesof calyx short, obtuse, entire. Stamens 20, many of which 



England cloves, and the balsamic odour of the eastern fruits are sterile, all filiform. Stigma bearded- Ovarium 1-celled, 



called the Jamsorade and the Rose-apple. The fruit of various 5-6-ovulate. 



Evgenias are found by travellers in the forests of Brazil to bear 6 Pilea'nthus. Flowers inclosed in a 1-leaved calyptriform 



very agreeable fruit. A fruit of Brazil, called Japoticabieras, involucrum before expansion; limb of calyx 10-parted; lobes 



brought from the forests to the towns of St. Paul and Tcjuco, rounded. Stamens 20, all fertile, some simple, others bifur- 

 belongs to this order j it is said to be delicious. (St. Hil. pi. 



VOL. n» 



cate. Ovarium 1-celled, 5-7-ovulate. Stigma obtuse, 

 5 L 



j-jmj-.\^ ^ - V^ vV— ^t* . 



