M Y R 



M Y R 



Bowers arc smaller, and the berries small and 

 oval. 



The Broad-leaved Dutch Myrtle, which has 

 - much less than I hose of the common sort, 

 and more pointed, Handing close together en the 

 branches : the midrib on tiie under side of the 

 5 is of a purple colour : they are of a darker 

 green, and sit closer to the branches: the flowers 

 arc smaller, on shorter peduncles, and come out a 

 little later than those oi the common sort. 



The Double-flowering Myrtle, which is pro- 

 bably a sub-variety of this : the leaves and 

 growth of the plant, the size of the flowers, and 

 the time of the flowering, agreeing better with 

 this than any of the others. 



The Rosemary -leaved or Thvnie-leaved My- 

 tle, which has the branches grow ing pretty erect; 

 the leaves small, narrow, acute, sessile, and of 

 a lucid green : the flowers are small, appearing 

 late in the season. These varieties are con- 

 stant j but there are others which are propagated 

 iu gardens and nurseries for sale, which are less 

 considerable and more variable, as ; the Gold- 

 striped Broad-leaved Myrtle; the Broad leaved 

 Jew's Myrtle, having frequently the leaves in 

 threes ; the Gold-striped Orange-leaved Myrtle ; 

 the Silver-striped Italian Myrtle; the- Striped Box- 

 leaved Myrtle; the Silver-striped Rosemarv- leav- 

 ed Myrtle; the Silver-striped Nutmeg Myrtle ; 

 and the Cock's-comb or Bird's-nest Myrtle. 



The second species has the branches round, 

 tomentose : the leaves are an inch and half long, 

 elliptic, blunt, above dark and veined, reflex at 

 the edge, the nerves more conspicuous under- 

 neath, smooth above, hoary underneath, on very 

 short petioles : the peduncles axillary and ter- 

 minating, solitary, opposite, tomentose : bractes 

 two, small, oblong, at the base of the calyx, 

 which is turbinate and tomentose, with four 

 rounded segments: the petals oblong, tonientose- 

 bairy without, purple within. It is a native of 

 China, flowering in June and Julv. 



The third rises with a divided trunk to the 

 height of eight or ten feet, sending out many 

 opposite branches covered with a gray bark : 

 the leaves are shorter and rounder at the points, 

 smoother and of a firmer texture than in the ninth 

 the flowers come out from the side of the 

 branches between the leaves, on slender foot- 

 stalks, about an inch in length, two generally 

 from the same point: the berries are round, and 

 brighter than in the ninth: but the leaves and fruit 

 not being aromatic aire not in use. 



As it retains its leave.-, which arc of a spk-n- 

 greeu, all the year, it makes a good ap- 

 pearance; but the flowers, being small and grow- 

 ing thinly upon the branches, do not make any 

 ■ figure. It is a native of Jamaica. 



Vol. II. 



The fourth species has the leaves of a sin 

 structure, being from ovate remarkably attenu- 

 ated into a lanceolate top: the Rowers are livc- 

 petalled. It is a native of Surinam. 



The fifth has thick leaves : peduncles axillarv 

 and terminating, bracbiate-panicled, length oi 

 the leaves : petals few. Native of Ameri 



The sixth species has a strong upright stalk, 

 covered with a smooth gray bark, dividing to- 

 wards the top into many slender stiff branches : 

 the leaves are near two inch.es long, and an inch 

 and quarter broad, of a lucid green, and on very 

 short foot-stalks : the flowers come out at the 

 ends of the branches, several on one common pe- 

 duncle, which branches out ; and each flower 

 stands on a very slender pedicel : they are very 

 like the (lowers of the Italian Myrtle. It is a 

 native of Cevlon. 



The seventh sort may contend the palm of 

 elegance with most trees. It grows slowly, and 

 flowers late, twice in a year. By age it acquires 

 thickness and height beyond the mediocrity : the 

 trunk is handsome, straight, formimr, a very 

 lofty thick beautiful pyramidal head : the bark 

 in the younger trees is brown, then ash-coloured, 

 finally white entirely, or w ith large yellow spots ; 

 it is very smooth and even, especially in old 

 trees, but here and there hangs down in slender 

 shreds; the flavour is astringent, not without 

 something of aromatic : the timber very hard, 

 red, compact, ponderous, and capable of being 

 polished ; used for the cogs of wheels in the 

 sugar-mills, and other works where considerable 

 friction is required : the younger branches are 

 acutely four-cornered and green : the leaves nu- 

 merous, quite entire, shining, bright green, 

 with transverse veins, blunt, attenuated Into a 

 short petiole ; they are always opposite, com- 

 monly three or four inches long, of a very sweet 

 aromatic smell, and on account of their agree- 

 able astringency are used for sauce with food : 

 the flowers small, white with a slight tinge of 

 redness: the berries round, the size of peas, 

 crowned with the remains of the ealv:^ having 

 an aromatic smell and taste, which render them 

 agreeable for culinary purposes. It is a native 

 of the West Indies, where it is sometimes 

 called L ? o:\- d'lnde. 



The eighth species has the whole of the plant 

 smooth : the leaves pelioled, an inch lon«r, 

 emarginate, from a reflex margin becoming con- 

 vex, the upper surface shining \ er\ much, vcin- 

 le.--, transversely but obliquely marked with 

 di.sky nerved lines; the under surface less shin- 

 ing : the younger leaves veined on both sides, 

 with minute raised dots scattered over the- under 

 surface, which vanish in the older leaves, and 

 tbey have duskv spots impressed on the upper 

 T 



