NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 59 
of America, Asia, and New Holland, fewer have yet been found in Africa; but it has not 
been so wellexplored. The number of species referred to this order, I estimate by a rough 
calculation at from 1000 to 1200, but I tiink it probable my estimate is under the true 
number, as there are 70 genera, and some including upwards of 100 species, one Eugenia 
above 300. One species only is a native of Europe, that from which the family takes its 
name Myrtus communis, and that is confined to the southern latitudes. 
Such being the case, it is natural to suppose, that in a climate partaking so largely of the 
European character as this does, that the number of species should be small. And this is 
the case, four only being found on the higher ranges: while as we descend to the plains, on 
all sides, the numbers increase. ‘Those however that do occur here are very abundant, and 
three of the four, stately trees; the fourth Myrtus tomentosa, or, as 1 now propose to desig- 
nate it, Lhodomyrtus tomentosas is generally a shrub, though sometimes it attains almost 
arboreous dimensions. 
The relations of this order with its neighbours are sufficiently extensive and varied, 
and as it now stands, being loosely defined and very polymorphous, affinities with a great 
number can be easily traced. ‘The essential character of the order is, an adherent ovary: 
stamens usually indefinate not induplicate in wstivation, (that is the filaments are not folded 
on themselves as in Melastomucee,) leaves pellucidly punctuate. Exclude the last clause 
—leaves pellucidly punctuate—and then the following may be included under the rest of the 
definition—Pomazcee, Combretucee, Alungiez, Rhizophoree, Philadelphee, and Onagrarie. 
From this it would appear the characters of Myrtacez are rather of a negative than 
positive kind, and that to discover a Myrtaceous plant, we must first ascertain that it does 
not belong to any of the above orders, and then we may infer that it belongs to this. Or- 
dinal distinctions taken from the ovary and fruit, can have no place here, for among the 
sections and genera we find nearly all kinds. ‘The flowers and leaves alone supply the or- 
dinal characters, the ovaries and fruit sectional and generic ones. 
The Pomegranate was long associated with this family. Don removed it as the type 
of a new order, in this he has been followed by most Botanists: Endlicher has, however, 
restored it to its old place, but I think incorrectly, as it assuredly is not a Myrtaceous plant. 
The late Mr. Griffith referred it to Lythrarieg, and | now think he is the only Botanist who 
really understood its true structure and affinities. 
Ihave already alluded to some of the economical applications of the species of this 
family, one rather curious property remains to be noticed ; namely, that the juice of the 
Rhodomyrtus, when simply boiled for some time yields without the aid of sugar, a jelly of as 
firm a consistence as animal jelly, a circumstance, 1 believe, of rare occurrence among vege- 
table juices, 
RHODOMYRTUS—R. W.—MYRTUS—Szcr. Hi—DC. 
Calyx tube conical, limb 5-lobed, zestivation quincunctial: petals 5, estivation imbricated : stamens inde- 
finite ; ovary 3-celled: ovules in a double series superposed, horizontally compressed, incurved and reniform : 
seeds like the ovules subreniform, compressed, horizontal, 2 series, testa bony: embryo terete the shape of 
the seed, 
Shrubs or small trees with opposite, oval, 3-nerved, coriaceous impunctate leaves, at first pubescent, 
afterwards subglabrous above, villous or tomentose beneath, peduncles axillary, 1- 3-flowered with 2 
