548 



SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Fig. 937. 



Natural Order 106. Myrtace^. — The Myrtle Order {fig. 



937).— Character. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite or al- 

 ternate, entire, exstipulate {fig. 

 937), usually dotted, and having a 

 vein running just within the mar- 

 gin. Calyx superior {fig. 446), 

 4 or 5-cleft, valvate, sometimes 

 separating in the form of a cap. 

 Petals 4—5 {fig. 937), imbri- 

 cated, rarely absent. Stameois 

 usually 8 — 10, or numerous {figs. 

 446 and 937), or rarely 4 — 5 ; 

 filaments distinct or polyadel- 

 phous. Ovary inferior i^fig. 446), 

 1 — 6-celled ; style and stigma 

 simple {figs. 446 and 937); 

 placentas axile {fig. 446), or 

 very rarely parietal. Fruit 

 dry or su.cculent, dehiscent or 

 indehiscent. &e('ds without al- 

 bumen, usually numerous. 



Division of the Order, and Ex- 

 amples of the Genera. — The order 

 is divided into two tribes as 

 follows : — 



Tribe 1. LeptospermecB. Fruit capsular. Examples: — Melaleuca, 

 Leptospermum. 



Tribe 2. Myrtem. — Fruit baccate. Examples: — Punicu, Myrtus. 



Distribution and Numhers. — 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 naturalised in the south of Europe, was 

 originally a native of Persia. There are about 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 volatile oils. M:iny of these oils have 

 been used in medicine as stimulants, aromatics, carminatives, 

 diaphoi'etics, or antispasmodics. The parts of some species 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. Some are valuable timber 

 trees. 



Caryophyllus aromaticus, the Clove-tree.— The dried flowei--bnds con- 

 stitute the c/ore.? of commerce, which are so well known as a spice ; and in 

 medicine, for their aromatic, stimulant, and carminative properties. Their 

 properties are chiefly due to the presence of a volatile oil. The dried unripe 

 h-uits are called moi'her cloves ; they are used iu China and other countries 



Fig. 937. Flowering branch of the com 

 m'on Myrtle (Myrtus communis). 



