498 LTI. MYUTACE-i;. 



Psidium Giu/ava, Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) p. 470. The well-known 

 Guiiva Tree, a native of Mexico and possibly other parts of Tropical 

 America, is cnltivated throughont and naturalized in India and in most 

 tropical countries. It is valued for its fruit and is deserving of more 

 attention than it generally receives. As the trees in cultivation are 

 mostly seedlings, tliere is naturally an immense variety in the (piality of 

 the fruit, which could be much improved by a judicious system of 

 grafting. Tl. B. I. v. 2, p. 468 ; Firminger, INIan. Gard. ed. 3, p. 2(31 ; 

 \Voodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 11 (1898) p. 637, & Gard. in Ind. ed. 5, 

 p. 314; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 6, part 1, p. 3.31. Psidium pi/ri- 

 ferum, Linn. Sp. PI. ed. 2 (1762) p. 672 ; Grab. Cat. p. 72; Dalz. & 

 Gibs. Suppl. p. 34. — Veen. Jamb ; Pent. 



Mj/rtus com.munis, Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) p. 471. The Myrtle, a well- 

 known sweet-scented shrub, a native of S. Europe, is cultivated in every 

 garden for its fragrant leaves. Dak. & Gibs. Suppl. p. 34 ; Firminger, 

 Man. Gard. ed. 3, p. 571 ; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 11 (1898) 

 p. 637, & Gard. in Ind. ed. 5, p. 314 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 5, 

 p. 316. — Vekn. Vildyti^MendM. 



Order LVII. MELASTOMACEiE. 



Herbs or shrubs, rarely erect trees, sometimes climbers. Leaves 

 opposite (rarely whorled), simple, equal or unequal, exstipulate, usually 

 petiolate, often 3-11-nerved, the nerves converging from the base 

 towards the apex (rarely penninerved). Flowers regular, hermaphro- 

 dite, in spikes, panicles or corymbs, rarely solitary or fascicled. Calyx- 

 tube free or partly or entirely adherent to the ovary by longitudiual 

 septa ; limb truncate, 3-6-lobed, or calyptrate. Petals as many as the 

 calyx-lobes, inserted on the mouth of the calyx-limb, sometimes oblique, 

 very rarely cohering at the base, imbricate. Stamens as many or move 

 commonly double as many as the petals and inserted with them (very 

 rarely subindefiuite), 1-seriate, the alternate stamens shorter or some- 

 times rudimentary, rarely all equal ; filameuts various, glabrous or 

 glandular, inflexed in bud; anthers basifixed, opening at the apex by 

 one or two pores, rarely by slits down the face, the connective sometimes 

 appendnged. Ovary sometimes wholly free, usually variously adherent, 

 3-6-celled (1-celled in ilit?»a7/Zon) ; ovules numerous (except in Meme- 

 cylon), on axile, parietal or free central placentas ; style terminal, usually 

 filiform. Fruit usually enclosed in the calyx-tube, capsular or baccate, 

 breaking up irregularly or by slits through the top of its cells. Seeds 

 many (usually 1 in Memccylon) ; albumen ; cotyledons small (larger 

 and much folded in Memecylon). — Distrib. Tropical with a few sub- 

 tropical, very many in Amei'ica, a smaller number in Asia, and a much 

 less number in Africa and Polynesia ; genera 138 ; species about 1800. 



Seeds numerous. 

 Petals 4 or 5. 



Stamens equal or subequal I. Osbeckia. 



Stamens very unequal 2. Mklasto.ma. 



Petals 3 .' 'S. Sonerila. 



Seeds solitary (rarely 2) 4. Memecylon. 



