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XXV. Botanical Char afters of Jomc Plants of the Natural Order of 

 Myrti. By James Edward Smith, AID. F.R.S. P.LS. 



Read O&obtr 4, 1 796. 



* I ^HE natural order of Myrti, Jujf. Gen. 322, is compofed of a 

 ■*■ number of very elegant ihrubs and trees, the genera of which 

 have not been, clearly defined ; nor, indeed, do the limits of this 

 family feem well under flood by the bed writer on natural orders, 

 M. de Jufheu. 



Thefe plants agree in having an arborefcent ftem, the wood of 

 which is generally hard, and of flow growth. Their leaves arc 

 fimple, for the moft part entire, and evergreen ; often dotted with 

 clear refinous fpots, and almoft always more or lefs aromatic, fome- 

 times aftringent. Calyx monophyllous, urceolate, or tubular, with 

 feveral, generally five, teeth, the body of the calyx being perma- 

 nent, and inverting the fruit (in fome inftances pulpy), though the 

 teeth are very frequently deciduous. Petals equal in number to the 

 teeth of the calyx, alternate with them, and inferted into the rim 

 juft within them. Stamina inferted into the fame rim within 

 the petals, numerous, rarely only equal to the petals in number, 

 or about twice as many ; for the raoft part very long, but, in 

 fome inftances, fhorter than the corolla. Gennen in the bottom of 

 the calyx, fimple. Style one. Stigma undivided. Fruit either a 



berry 



