ie 
M. proserpinacoides (Proserpinaca-like). F. 
AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 405 
MYRIOPHYLLUM (the old Greek name used by 
Dioscorides, from myrios, myriad, and phyllon, a leaf; 
in reference to the numerous divisions of the leaves). 
Water Milfoil. Including Pelonastes. ORD. Haloragee. 
A genus of about fifteen species of hardy, half-hardy, or 
greenhouse, floating, aquatic herbs (rising above the water 
to flower), found in all parts of the world. Flowers small, 
disposed in axillary whorls; upper ones male, lower 
ones female. Leaves finely cut, opposite or verticillate. 
Very few species are worth growing. They are propagated 
chiefly by divisions. Three species are represented in the 
British Flora, but they are not of any value from a 
horticultural standpoint. 
very minute, 
J. in whorls of five, very finely pectinated. Brazil, Chili, &c., 
1879. A graceful half-hardy aquatic, with an extremely pretty 
feathery appearance. It requires mud to root in, and is easily 
increased. The stems are weak, but do not require support, all 
the pretty points of the shoots oe oyt of the water, perhaps 
to a height of 6in. or 8in. Syn. estes reflexa (of gardens). 
MYRIOPTERIS. Included under Cheilanthes. 
MYRISTICA (from myristikos, smelling of myrrh, 
from myron, myrrh). Nutmeg. The only genus of ORD. 
Myristicee (which see for characters, Ko.). The under- 
mentioned stove evergreen tree is the only species which 
calls for description here. It thrives in a sandy-loam 
and fibry-peat compost. Propagated by cuttings of ripened 
shoots, inserted in sand, under a bell glass, in bottom heat. 
M. fragrans (fragrant). True Nutmeg. fl. pale yellow. June. 
Jr. very much like a Peach, having e groove on one 
side. J. alternate, entire, oblong, aromatic. h. 30ft. Indian 
Archipelago, 1795. ‘The Nutmeg consists of the albumen or 
perisperm, with the barge at one end, and-is covered by a 
thin membrane, which adheres closely to its surface, and pro- 
jects into the substance of the albumen, thereby giving it the 
mottled appearance for which it is so remarkable” (Masters). 
SYN. M. moschata. (B. M. Pl. 218.) 
M. moschata (musk). A synonym of M. fragrans. 
MTRTISTICEE. A natural order of trees and shrubs, 
having a styptic juice which reddens when in contact with 
the air, natives, for the most part, of tropical Asia and 
America, a few in Africa, and one each in Madagascar 
and Australia. Flowers white or yellow, dicecious, usually 
axillary, in racemes, clusters, heads, or panicles, incon- 
spicuous. Fruit succulent, one-celled, two (rarely four) 
valved; seed solitary, usually covered by a laciniate, 
often aromatic axil; albumen scented. Leaves alter- 
nate, nearly distichous, shortly petioled, coriaceous, 
simple, entire, penninerved, folded lengthwise when 
young, pubescent or scaly, exstipulate. Myristicew fur- 
nishes the well-known Nutmeg and Mace of commerce. 
It contains but a single genus—Myristica—and about 
eighty species. 
MYROBALAN PLUM. See Prunus cerasifera. 
MYRODIA (from myron, myrrh, perfume, and odme, 
scent). Syn. Lexarsa. ORD. Sterculiacee. A genus com- 
prising about seven species of stove evergreen shrubs 
or trees, with an aromatic odour, confined to tropical 
America. Petals white, oblong; peduncles opposite the 
leaves, short, one-flowered. Leaves entire or obso- 
letely toothed, penninerved, or irregularly three to five- 
nerved at base. Only one species has yet been intro- 
duced ; it thrives in a rich sandy-loam soil. Propagated 
by cuttings of half-ripened shoots, placed in sand, under 
a glass, in heat. 5 
M. turbinata (turbinate). f. white, very fragrant; peduncles 
nearly as long as the petioles. May. J. elliptical, quite entire. 
ches few. k. 8ft. 1793. Shrub. . 
MYROSPERMUM (from myron, myrrh, and sperma, 
a seed; in reference to the seeds yielding a strong- 
smelling resin). ORD. Leguminose. A monotypic genus, 
the species being a stove evergreen tree, native of 
tropical America. For culture, see Myroxylon. 
M. frutescens whitish-rose, disposed in terminal, 
simple or ee i. alternate, pinnate, deciduous, 
Myrospermum—continued. 
with commonly three pairs of leaflets and an odd one, which are 
quite entire and smooth. k. 10ft. 
MYROXYLON (from myron, myrrh, and aon, wood; 
the wood is resinous and sweet-scented). Tolu Balsam- 
tree. Syn. Toluifera. ORD. Leguminose. This genus 
contains about six species of stove evergreen trees, 
natives of tropical America. Flowers in axillary or 
terminal clusters. Leaves impari-pinnate, marked with 
pellucid dots. The species thrive in a compost of loam 
and peat, to which may be added a small quantity of 
silver sand and leaf mould. Propagated, during summer, 
by cuttings of half-ripened shoots, placed in sand, under 
a bell glass, in bottom heat. The most important species 
are given below. 
x white, d Bgl eres 8 e 8 
pinnate, usually with about pd of ovate-lanceolate, — 
emarginate leaflets, which are full of transparent, linear, resinous 
dots. h. 40ft. Peru, &., 1824. A very beautiful tree, long 
supposed (but erroneously) to be the source of m of Peru, 
M. pubescens (downy). white, disposed in terminal racemes, 
yt dco l. rather membranous, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, 
smooth above and pubescent beneath, emarginate. Branches 
and petioles hairy. h. 40ft. South America, 1820, An elegant 
tree, the bark of which is filled with white resin. 
M. Toluiferum (Tolu Balsam-bearing). Tolu Balsam-tree. 
H. yellowish, disposed in small axillary 
Branches and leaves glabrous. A. 40ft. South America, 1 
A large, spreading Ary with very thick, ng brown bark. 
The balsam flows from incisions made in the k, du 
the 
hot season ; its smell is extremely fragrant, somewhat resembling 
that of lemon, andits taste is warm and rather sweet. (B. M. 
84, under name of Toluifera Balsamum.) 
MTRR HITS (the old Greek name used by Dioscorides, 
probably from myrrha, myrrh; in allusion to the scent 
of the plants). Sweet Cicely or Myrrh. ORD. Umbellifera. 
A genus comprising only a couple of species of hairy, 
hardy, perennial herbs, with the habit of Cherophyllum ; 
one is an inhabitant of the mountains of Europe and 
the Caucasus region, and the other is North American. 
Flowers white, polygamous; petals cuneate, obovate, or 
oblong ; umbels compound; involucres one, two, or many- 
bracteate. Leaves pinnately-decompound ; segments pinna- 
tifid or toothed. The only species worth notice is the 
native M. odorata. This is a very graceful-looking plant, 
and is suitable for naturalising in many situations, such 
as in wild gardens and semi-wild spots generally. It 
thrives in almost any soil, and may be propagated by 
divisions or by seeds. 
M. (sweet-scented).* 
umbels, iin long, with five very ribs 
wits elite stiff ais 8 L e 
eens eee as a pot-herb, and still used in salads in Italy. 
(Sy. En. B. 626.) 
(the old Greek name given by Dioscorides 
to the Myrtle). Srxs. Athruphyllum, goats , Man- 
grilla, Rapanea, Samara, and Sclerowylon. hag eee 
This genus contains about eighty species of stove 
greenhouse, glabrous trees or shrubs, rarely pubescent or 
tomentose, natives, for the most part, of Asia, Africa, or 
tropical America; a few are indigenous in Japan, ena 
tropical Africa, Australia, the islands of the Atlantic, =e 
New Zealand. Flowers small, disposed in axillary fas 
cicles, sessile or pedunculate. Leaves coriaceous, entire, 
ly serrulate. The species best known to cultivation 
rom ere below. For culture, see Ardisia. 
i i , by threes; petals 
m. ao . 5 . x 8 6 acute, dotted. 
h. 3ft. to 6ft. Cape of Hope, 1691. Greenhouse shrub. 
capitellata small-headed : ellowish-green, small, 
M. capitellata (mr Ned heads. —- ` gen hrs a 
0 : i sho 
oblong-lanceolate, rather acute, coriaceous, ly 
ite entire, n above, paler beneath. h. (in its 
— country a tree ft. to 40ft.). Nepaul, 1828. Stove shrub. 
(B. M. 3222.) 
