Tas. 8128; 
BLEPHAROCALYX sprranoipks. 
oe Brazil. 
MyrrackEak. Tribe Myrrear. 
BierHarocatyx, Berg.; Niedenzu in Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenf. vol. iii. 7, p. 71, 
Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 715, sub Myrto. 
Blepharocalyx spiraeoides, Stapf; affinis B. angustifolio, sed foliis mino- 
ribus obtusis, panicula densiflora, cymis bifloris, sepalis aequalibus vix 
albo-marginatis, petalis majoribus, bacca majore distinctus. : 
Frutex multiramosus, densus, 3 m. altus, ramis gracilibus tenuissime 
puberulis tandem cortice fusco tectis. Folia lanceolato-linearia, utriuque 
obtusa, 1-2 cm. longa, 2-3 mm. lata, tenuiter coriacea, glabra, viridia, 
subtus pallidiora, marginibus recurvis, nervis lateralibus inconspicuis; 
petiolus vix 1 mm. longus. Cymae biflorae,in paniculas multitloras 
densas (hinc inde folhis admixtas) collectae; pedunculi pedicellique graciles 
puberuli; bracteae elliptico-ovatae, parvae; bracteolae ad calycis basin 
sitae, rotundatae; pedicelli 1°5-2 mm. longi. Receptaculwm obovoi- 
deum, glabrum, 0°38 mm. longum. Calyx receptaculo aequilongus vel 
paulo longior, segmentis 4 rotundato-ovatis ciliatis. Petala 4, late 
elliptica, concava, pallide flava, ciliata, 3 mm. longa. Stamina circiter 
18, longiora petala aequantia. Ovariwm 2-loculare, ovulis biseriatis, 6 in 
unaquaque placenta, placentis vix prominentibus. Bacca globosa, 8 mm. 
diametro, rubra vel tandem violaceo-nigricans. Semen unicum (semper ?); 
testa crustacea, tenuis. Hmbryo curvatus, glandulosus, cotyledonibus 
minutis. 
This is a very handsome and freely flowering shrub, 
somewhat of the habit of a Spiraea, and it thrives well 
in a warm house. The plant from which the drawing 
was made was received from Baron Capanema, Director 
of Telegraphs of Brazil, in 1885. There are no specimens 
of the wild plant at Kew, and its exact habitat is un- 
known. The area of the genus extends almost over the 
whole of South America, reaching to 42° 8. lat. in Chile. 
It is, however, doubtful whether all the species referred to 
Blepharocalyx belong to that genus, and even whether it 
should be retained as distinct from Myrtus, from which it 
differs mainly in having a thin, crustaceous testa, instead 
of a thick, bony one. 
Deser.—A much-branched shrub, about 9 ft. high, with 
slender, finely pubescent branches. Leaves lanceolate- 
linear, obtuse at both ends, $—? in. long, ;4,-34 in. broad, 
thinly coriaceous, glabrous, green, with recurved margins, 
and very short petioles. Cymes 2-flowered, arranged in 
Marcia Ist, 1907. 
