552 



STSTEMATid feOTANY. 



Natural Order 106. 



Fig. 935. 



Myrtace^.— The Myrtle Order. — 

 Trees or shrubs. Leaves oppo- 

 site or alternate, entire, exsti- 

 pulate ifig. 935), usually dotted, 

 and having a vein running 

 just within the margin. Calyx 

 superior {fig. 448), 4 or 5 -cleft, 

 valvate, sonaetimes separating 

 in the form of a cap. Petals 

 4 — 5^ (fig, 935), imbricated, 

 rarely absent. Stamens usually 

 8 — 10, or numerous C/r^rs. 448 and 

 935), or rarely 4 — 5 ; filaments 

 distinct or polyadelphous ;anthers 

 ovate. Ouary inferior (^^f. 448), 

 1 — 6-celled ; style and stigma 

 simple (figs. 448 and 935) ; pla- 

 centas axile (fig. 448), or very 

 rarely parietal. Fruit dry or 

 succulent, dehiscent or indehis- 

 cent. Seeds without albumen, 

 usually numerous. 



Division of the Order, SfC.-r 

 The order is divided into two 

 divisions as follows : — 

 Tribe \. Leplospermece. Fruit capsular. Examples: — Melaleuca, 



Eucalyptus, Metrosideros Leptospermum. 

 Tribe 2. Myrtece. — Fruit baccate. Examples : — Punica, 

 Psidium, Myrtus, Caryophyllus, Eugenia, Jambosa. 

 Distribution, ^c. — Natives of the tropics, and of the warmer 

 parts of the temperate zones. Myrtus communis, the common 

 Myrtle, is the most northern species of the order. This plant 

 although now naturahsed in the south of Europe, was originally 

 a native of Persia. There are about 50 genera, and 1300 species 

 belonging to this order. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are generally 

 remarkable for their aromatic and pungent properties, which are 

 due to the presence of a volatile oil. ISIany of these oils have 

 been used in medicine, as stimulants, aromatics, carminatives, 

 diaphoretics, or antispasmodics. The parts of some are in 

 common use as spices. Other plants of the order are astringent, 

 and some secrete a saccharine matter. The fruits of some 

 having a sweetish acidulous taste are edible. 



Melaleuca minor or Cajeputi. — The leaves when allowed to stand so as to 

 underKo a species of fermentation, and then distilled with water, yield a vola- 

 tile oil of a limpid nature and light green colour, called Cajeput Oil. This was 

 formerly much employed as a remedy in cholera, but without any success. 

 It has been used internally as a diflTusible stimulant, antispasmodic, and diis- 

 phoretic ; and externally, when mixed with olive oil, as a stimulant embrota- 



Fig. 935. Flowering branch of the com' 

 men Myrtle {Myrtus communis). 



