ANGIOSPERM^, DICOTYLEDONES. 



783 



those of *lie Pomegranate have a fleshy coat, and those of Fpilohium are furnished 

 with hairs. The Myrtales are distributed over all quarters of the globe. The 

 Chamaelaucese and Leptospermaceae are natives of Australia and the islands of 

 the Pacific Ocean. Several species of this family help to form Australian bush, 

 whilst others, especially species of the genus Eucalyptus, constitute entire forests 

 of great area. The Lecythidacea) grow chiefly in South America. The Myrtacece 

 are most abundant in America, and occur also in Asia and Africa. Europe only 



I possesses one species, Myrtus communis, which belongs to the Mediterranean Flora. 



' The Fuchsias are indigenous to Central and South America. The Epilobiums and 



Fig. 440. — Melastomacese. 

 Melastoma Malabathricum. (After Baillon.) 



Circaeas live principally in the North Temperate Zone, and some species of the genus 

 Epilobium occur in the arctic regions and on mountain heights. Fossil remains of 

 Myrtacese and Granatacese have been found in the strata of the Tertiary Period. 

 The number of species ascertained to exist at the present day is about 2500. 



Alliance LIX. — Melastomales. 



Family: Melastomacece. 



Perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees, with opposite or whorled foliage-leaves. 

 Leaves entire, with 3-11 curved ribs connected by transverse anastomoses (see 

 fig. 440). Flowers hermaphrodite or pseudo-hermaphrodite; slightly zygomorphic. 

 Floral-leaves diflferentiated into calyx and corolla. The bowl-shaped or tubular 



