158 i;*iTAXV. 



simple ; ovules anatropal, pendulous, or erect. Fruit dry or fleshy, dehiscent 

 or indehiscent. Seeds usually », attached to a central placenta; mostly 

 exalbuminous ; embryo straight or curved ; cotyledons distinct, or con- 

 solidated with the radicle, which is next the hilum. Trees or shrubs, with 

 opposite, rarely alternate leaves, which are usually entire and dotted, and 

 frequently have an intramarginal vein. They are natives chiefly of warm 

 countries, as South America and the East Indies. Many, however, are 

 found in more temperate regions. Some of the genera are peculiar to 

 Australia. The order has been divided into the following sub-orders : 



Sub-order 1. ChamcBlauciece, heath-like plants, with a one-celled ovary 

 and capsule, and opposite dotted leaves. 



Sub-order 2. Leptospermece, having a plurilocular capsule, and opposite 

 and alternate, usually dotted leaves. 



Stib-order 3. Myrtece, having a baccate fruit, distinct stamens, opposite 

 dotted leaves. 



Sub-order 4. BarringtoniecB, having a fleshy, one-celled fruit, monadelphous 

 stamens, albuminous seeds, opposite or verticillate leaves, not dotted. 



Sub-order 5. Lecythidece, having a plurilocular woody capsule, which either 

 remains closed or opens by a lid, monadelphous stamens, alternate, not dotted 

 leaves. 



Several of these sub-orders are made separate orders by Lindley and 

 others. There are 77 known genera, and upwards of 1400 species. 

 Examples: Chamaelaucium, Calytrix, Leptospermum, Melaleuca, Metrosi- 

 deros. Eucalyptus, Myrtus, Psidium, Eugenia, Caryophyllus, Barringtonia, 

 Gustavia, Lecythis, Bertholletia. No species has yet been described from 

 North America, although some probably are to be found in Florida. 



Those plants of this order, with pellucid dots in the leaves, yield a 

 volatile oil. Some furnish edible fruits. The clove of commerce is the 

 flower-bud of Caryophyllus aromaticus, originally from the Moluccas, 

 Allspice, or Pimento, is the dried berry of Eugenia pimenta, indigenous to 

 the West Indies and to Mexico. Psidium pyriferum yields the guava. 

 Punica granatum, the Pomegranate, is a well known ornamental species. 

 Cream or Brazil nuts are derived from Bertholletia excelsa. Sugar from 

 Eucalyptus, natives of New Holland, has recently excited the attention of 

 chemists. Cajeput oil is derived from species of Melaleuca. 



Caryophyllus aromaticus, the Clove Tree (pi. 69, fig. 12) ; a, flowering 

 branch ; b, flowers without ; c, ditto with stamens ; d, anther ; e, calyx ; f, g, 

 buds ; h-k, fruit ; I-n. the seed. 



Melaleuca cajeput, the Cajeput Tree, Borneo, &c. (pi. 69, ßg. 9) ; a, a 

 flowering branch ; b, flower in vertical section ; c, calyx ; d, e, fruit. 



Melaleuca fulgens. New Holland (pi. 69, fig. 10) ; a, a bundle of 

 filaments, with three petals and the pistil ; b, pistil. 



Eugenia pimenta, Allspice, West Indies (pi. 69, fig. 11) ; a, a flower; b, 

 ditto magnified ; c, calyx with pistil ; d, pistil with stamens ; e and g, 

 berries ; f, a twig with berries ; A, vertical section ; i-k, seeds. 



Order 146. Melastomace^, the Melastoma Family. Calyx with four, 

 five, or six divisions, which are more or less deep, or are sometimes united 

 158 



