oo MYRTACEM. 
afforded by the calcium oxalate which is present in the bark in 
the form of simple crystals. The tannage or inspissa 
watery extract of guava bark is reddish brown and brittle 
very soluble in water, and containing as it does tannin ina f "et 
state, should be a useful astringent. 7 
MYRTUS COMMUNIS, Linn. 
Fig.—Duhamel ed. nov. t. 48. Myrtle (Zng.), Myrte (Pry 
Hab.—Europe. Cultivated in India. The leaves, fruit 
and bark. 
Vernacular.— Aas (Arab.), Vilayati-mehndi (Hind.). 
berries, Hab-el-aas (Arab., Ind. bazars). 
History, Uses, &c.—Amongst the ancients the Myrtl 
(pvpoim) was a phallic emblem sacred to Venus, at the festi 
of Myrrha, the incestuous mother of Adonis, married wom 
wore wreaths of the leaves; and in Virgil’s infernal regi 
the victims of love concealed themselves among the my 
At Romethis plant was not allowed to be placed upon the 
of Bona Dea, but at the festivals of Hleusis every one 
crowned with it; it was supposed not only to inspire love, 
to maintain it. According to a Greek myth, the nymph Myr- 
sine, having outstripped Athene in a race, was turned into a 
myrtle bush by the goddess, who, however, repenting of he 
cruelty afterwards, became particularly attached to the plan 
The Romans, after they had intended fighting for the Sab 
women whom they had carried off, purified themselves w 
sprigs of myrtle, ideo tune lecta (says Pliny) quoneam conjuc 
et huic arbort preest Venus. Pliny also tells us that Romul 
planted two myrtles at Rome, one of which afterwards becam 
the favourite of the patricians, and the other of the people 5 _ 
withered, but when the power of the latter was in the ascen 
the patrician myrtle faded. Before pepper was known my 
berries were employed as a spice to season foo ical ci Ly 
flavoured with them, (Hist. Nat, 15, $5.), Das sia 
