266 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



MYO 



Myopo'niin. The tj-pieal genus of Myoporacece, 

 consisting of upwards of fifteen species of 

 shrubs chiefly from Australia. Flowers often 

 white, small or medium. They are increased 

 by cuttings, but few of the species are in 

 cultivation. 



Myosoti'dium Nobile. The only representa- 

 ti%e of the genus is a very handsome, hardy, 

 or nearly hardy herbaceous perennial, resem- 

 bling a gigantic Forget-me-not, and belonging 

 to the same natural order, BoraginacecB. 



It is difficult of cultivation and seems to do 

 best in a cool, damp, sheltered situation, 



Myoso'tis. Forget-me-not. From mys, a 

 mouse, and otos an ear; resemblance of the 

 leaves. Nat. Ord. BoraginacecB. 



A genus of hardy and half-hardy annuals and 

 perennials, comprising numerous European, 

 northern Asiatic, and one or two native 

 species. The herbaceous species succeed 

 best in moist places, but all may be grown in 

 pots, provided they are kept well watered. 

 They are usually grown, however, in cold 

 frames like Pansies. M. dissitijlora is a 

 handsome species, from Switzerland, closely 

 allied to M. sylvatica, with large, deep sky- 

 blue flowers, and larger in all its parts than 

 the latter. It is one of the best sorts for 

 winter blooming, and succeeds best grown in 

 a cool house like Mignonette. M. palustris, 

 the true " Forget-me-not," is a well-known 

 hardy perennial from six to twelve inches 

 high, flowering in a cool moist position all 

 summer. M. Azorica with its variety known 

 as Imperatrice Elizabeth, form beautiful 

 branching bushes, six to twelve inches high, 

 covered with numerous heads of bluish- 

 purple flower. It is a native of the Azores, 

 and is not so hardy a.s the other species, but 

 is very useful for green-house decoration in 

 the winter and spring months. They are all 

 readily propagated by division, or by seed. 



My'rcia. A mythological name. Nat. Ord. 

 Myrtacem. 



A very large genus — over three hundred 

 species — of trees or shrubs, all natives of 

 tropical and sub-tropical America. The flow- 

 ers are small, and very few of the species ai-e 

 in cultivation. 



My'rica. Bayberry, Wax Myrtle, Sweet Gale. 

 From myrio, to flow ; found on the banks of 

 rivers. Nat. Ord. Alyricacece. 



A genus of green-house evergreen and hardy 

 shrubs. The former are not much grown. 

 Of the latter M. cerifera is a shrub common to 

 New York and the Atlantic coast, growing 

 four to eight feet high. The foliage has a 

 pleasant fragrance, and is used to a large ex- 

 tent in mixing with flowers used in summer 

 bouquets. In New England the wax which 

 invests the berries is collected in considerable 

 quantities. It is obtained bj" boiling the ber- 

 ries in water, when the wax melts and rises 

 to the surface. Under the name of Bayberrj' 

 tallow it is often used to make candles, either 

 alone or mixed with tallow ; it is also em- 

 ployed in soap-making. 



Myrica'ceae. A natural order of trees or 

 shrubs with resinous glands, alternate leaves 

 and unisexual flowers. They inhabit tem- 

 perate and tropical countries, and have 

 aromatic, tonic, and astringent properties. 

 The order contains but one genus and about 

 thirty-five species. 



MYR 



Myrica'ria. From murike, the Greek name of 

 the Tamarisk. Nat. Ord. TamaricacefB. 



Of the several species that are included in 

 this genus, M. Germanica is the only one of 

 special interest. It is a hardy evergreen 

 shrub from six to eight feet high, with very 

 narrow, flat leaves, and long spikes of delicate 

 pink flowers. It is indigenous throughout 

 most parts of Europe and the Caucasus. It is 

 of easy culture, and very ornamental. Propa- 

 gated by cuttings of young shoots, either in 

 spring or autumn. 



Myriophy'Uum. Water Milfoil. From myrioa, 

 a myriad, and phyllon. a leaf ; division of the 

 leaves. Nat. Ord. HaloragacecB. 



An extensive genus of hardy aquatic 

 plants, allied to Hippuris. The several 

 species are common in ponds and ditches 

 throughout the United States. M. spicatum. 

 makes a desirable plant for the aquarium. 



Myri'stica. Nutmeg. From myristikos, sweet- 

 smelling. Nat. Ord. MyristicacecB. 



M. moschata ov fragrans, a beautiful branch- 

 ing tree, growing about thirty feet high, pro- 

 duces the Mace and Nutmegs of commerce. 

 It is principally grown in the Banda Isles, 

 though common in Java and the Molucca 

 Islands. The male and female flowers are on 

 different trees. The flowers of both are small, 

 white, bell-shaped, and without any calyx ; 

 the embryo fruit appearing at the bottom of 

 the female flower in the form of a little reddish 

 knob. The female flowers grow on slender 

 peduncles, two or three together, but it is 

 rare that more than one flower in each bunch 

 comes to maturity and produces fruit ; this 

 resembles in size a small peach, but it is 

 rather more pointed at both ends. The outer 

 coat is about half an inch thick when ripe, at 

 which time it bursts at the side and discloses 

 the spices. These are, the Mace, having the 

 appearance of a leafy net-work of a fine red 

 color, which seems the brighter by being con- 

 trasted with the shining black of the shell 

 that it surrounds. This is laid to dry in the 

 shade for a short time, but if dried too much 

 a great part of its flavor is lost by evaporation. 

 On the other hand, if packed too moist, it 

 either ferments or breeds worms. The Nutmeg 

 is contained in a shell somewhat harder than 

 that of the filbert, and could not in the state 

 in which it is gathered be broken without 

 injuring the nut. On that account the nuts 

 are successively dried in the sun, and then by 

 tire heat, till the kernel shrinks so much as to 

 rattle in the shell, which is then easily broken, 

 and the Nutmeg released. After this process, 

 they are several times soaked in sea-water and 

 lime, and then laid in a heap, where they heat 

 and get rid of their superfluous moisture by 

 evaporation. This process is pursued to pre- 

 serve the substance of the nut, as well as to 

 destroy its vegetative power. When perfectly 

 cured they are packed in dry slacked lime, and 

 sent to market. 



Myristica'ceae. A natural order of trees and 

 shrubs, natives of the tropical regions of Asia 

 and America, Madagascar, Africa, with one 

 representation in Australia. Myristica the 

 only genus furnishes the well-known Nutmeg 

 and Mace of commerce, and contains about 

 eighty species. 



Myrobalan Plum. See Prunua cerasifera. 



Myrobalans. See Terminalia. 



