346 OBDER 49. MTRTACE^E. 



in many rows, lanceolate, somewhat coriaceous and fleshy, colored ; 

 stamens unequal, about 12, outer ones fertile; anthers extrorsc ; pistils 

 lew or many, inclosed in the calyx tube, fruit many times larger than 

 that of the' rose, loosely enclosing the large achenia. The bark and 

 Ivs. exhale the odor of camphor. Fls. of a lurid purple. 



C. floridus L. Lvs. oval, mostly ccuto or acuminate, tomentous beneath ; 

 branches spreading ; fls. nearly sessile. Fertile soils, along streams, Va. and all 

 the S. States. Not uncommon in gardens larther north, and valued for its ex- 

 quisite, strawberry-liko fragrance. Shrub 3 to 7f high. Lvs. 3 to 5 to 7' long. 

 Fls. on short branches. Fr. rare, of the size and form of a fig, acute at base, 

 truncate and involute at top, longitudinally veined. (Sent by Prof. Pond.) 

 (3. LJEVIGATUS T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or gradually 

 acute, glabrous or somewhat scabrous above ; branches erect. \ (C. lasviga- 

 tus Willd.) 



y. GLAUCCS T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, much acuminate, large, 

 glaucous and glabrous or minutely downy beneath ; branches spreading, f 

 (C. glaucus Willd.) 



<5. INODORUS T. & G. Lvs. lanceolate, scabrous and shining above, smooth be- 

 low ; branches spreading ; fls. inodorous. (C. inodorus Ell.) 



ORDER XLIX. MYRTACEJE. MYRTLEBLOOMS. 



Trees and shrubs, without stipules. Lvs. opposite, entire, punctate, usually with a 

 rein running close to the margin. Cal. adherent below to tho compound ovary, 

 the limb 4 or 5-cleft, valvate. Petals as many as tho segments of'tho calyx. 

 Stamens indefinite. Anthers introrsc. Style and stigma simple. Fruit with many 

 soeds. Albumen none. 



A fine order of 45 pentra and 1300 species, native of warm and torrid countries, especially of 

 S. America, and the E. Indies. 



Properties. A fragrant or punsrent volatile oil, residing chiefly in the pellucid dotting of the 

 leaves, pervades the odor. The Caryophyllus aroniaticus, native of Arabia, a tree about 20f in 

 height, yields the clove (rfoii.Fr. a nail), which is the dried flower. Cajeput oil is distilled from 

 the leaves of tho Melnleuca Cajepnti, native of the E. Indies. A kind of gum kino is obtained 

 from Eucalyptus rcsfnifern, also a native of India. The root of the Pomegranate yields an ex- 

 tract which is an excellent vermifuge. All the genera are exotic with us. Many'of them arc 

 highly ornamental in culture. 



1. HYR'TUS, Tourn. MYRTLE. (Gr. [ivpov, perfume.) Calyx 5- 

 r'left ; petals 5 ; berry 2 or 3-celled ; radicle and cotyledons distinct. 

 Shrubs with evergreen Ivs. marked by a marginal vein. 



M. commtinis L. Lvs. oblong-ovate; fls. Folitary; involucre 2 -leaved. 

 This popular shrub is a native of S. Europe. In this country it is reared only in 

 houses and conservatories. Leaves about 1 by 6'. Flowers white. Among the 

 ancients it was a great favorite for its elegance of form, and its fragrant, ever- 

 green leaves. It was sacred to Yenus. Tho brows of bloodless victors were 

 adorned with myrtle wreaths, and r.t Athens it was an emblem of civic au- 

 thority. 



2. PITNICA, L. POMEGRANATE. (Lat. punica ; Carthaginian or 

 of Carthage, where it first grew.) Calyx 5-clcft ; petals 5 ; berry 

 many-celled, many-seeded, seeds baccate ; placenta parietal. Deci- 

 duous trees and shrubs. 



1 P. Granatum L. Arborescent ; Ivs. lanceolate, with no marginal vein. 

 A thorny bush when wild, from S. Europe, where it is sometimes used for 

 hedges like the hawthorn. In Flu., &<.., it is a tree 15 to 20f high. Lvs. entire, 

 emooth, 2 to 3' by 1 to 10", obtuse. Tho fls. are scarlet, large, and make a fine 

 appearance. The fr. is large, highly ornamental, and cf a fine flavor. Much 

 care is requisite for its cultivation. It requires a rich IOC.IP, a eurny ntu:.- 



