65 • . 



thesis of M. Tillette de Clermont, who fancies that it is due to the cohesion 

 of 3 flowers. The anomaly of tlie structure of the fruit of Punica being 

 thus explained, nothing remains -to distinguish it from Myrtacece but its 

 leaves without a marginal vein, its convolute cotyledons, and pulpy seeds. 

 There are, however, distinct traces of dots in the leaves, and the union 

 of the venge arcuatse, which gives the appearance of a marginal vein to 

 Myrtaceae, takes place, although less regularly, in Punica; the convolute 

 cotyledons of Punica are only in Myrtaceee what those of Chania;meles are 

 in Pomacese, a curious but unimportant exception to the general structure ; 

 and the solitary character of the pulpy coat of the seeds will hardly be 

 deemed by itself sufficient to characterise Granatece. The place of Punica 

 in the order will be probably near Sonneratia. There is no instance of a 

 blue flower in the order. 



Geography. Natives of hot countries both within and without the 

 tropics ; great numbers are found in South America and the East Indies, 

 not many in Africa, and a considerable proportion of the order in New 

 Holland and the South Sea Islands ; but the genera of those countries are 

 mostly peculiar to them. Myrtus communis, the most northern species of 

 the order, is native of the south of Europe. 



Properties. The pellucid dotting of the leaves and other parts indi- 

 cates the presence of a fragrant aromatic or pungent volatile oil, which 

 gives the principal quality to the products of the order. To this are due the 

 grateful perfume of the Guava fruit, the powerful aroma of the flower-buds 

 of Caryophyllus aromaticus, called by the English Cloves, and the balsamic 

 odour of the eastern fruits called the Jamrosade and the Rose Apple. Along 

 with this is frequently mixed an astringent principle, which sometimes pre- 

 dominates, to the suppression of any other property. The following are some 

 of the less known instances of the existence of these and other qualities. 

 The fruit of various Eugenias are found by travellers in the forests of Brazil 

 to bear very agreeable fruit. Pr. Max. Trav. 75. A fruit of Brazil, called 

 Jahoticabeiras, brought from the forests to the towns of St. Paul and 

 Tejuco, belongs to this order; it is said to be delicious. PL Usuelles, 29. 

 The young flower-buds of Calyptranthus aromatica have the flavour and 

 quality of Cloves, for which they might be advantageously substituted, 

 according to M. Auguste St. Hilaire. Ibid. no. 14. The volatile oil of 

 Cajeputi is distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca leucadendron, and is well 

 known as a powerful sudorific, and useful external application in chronic 

 rheumatism. Ainslie, 1. 260. It is considered carminative, cephalic, and 

 emmenagogue, and is, no doubt, a highly diffusible stimulant, antispasmodic, 

 and diaphoretic. It has also the power of dissolving caoutchouc. Ibid. 

 The root of Eugenia racemosa (Stravadium) has a slightly bitter, but not 

 unpleasant taste. It is considered by the Hindoo doctors valuable on 

 account of its aperient, deobstruent, and cooling properties; the bark is 

 supposed to possess properties similar to Cinchona. Ibid. 2. Q5. A kind 

 of gum Kino is yielded by Eucalyptus resinifera, which is occasionally sold 

 in the medicine bazars of India. Ibid. 1. 185. Other species of Eucalyptus 

 yield a large quantity of tannin, which has been even extracted from the 

 trees in New Holland, and sent to the English market. The efficacy of 

 the bark of the root of the Pomegranate as a remedy for tape-worm is well 

 established in India. Ibid. 2. 175. The leaves of Glaphyria nitida, called 

 by the Malays The Tree of Long Life, {Kayo Umur Panjancj), " probably 

 from its maintaining itself at elevations where the other denizens of the 

 forest have ceased to exist," afford at Bencoolen a substitute for tea ; and 

 it is known to the natives bv thf> name of the Tea Plant. Linn. Trans. 

 14. 129. 



