MYRTACEjE. 



809 



at the apex ; tube adnate to tlie ovarium (f. 115. a. f. 123. a.). 

 Petals equal in number to the lobes of the calyx, inserted in the 

 calyx, rarely wanting ; but when present with a quincunical 

 aestivation (f. 122. 6.). Stamens inserted along with the petals 

 (f. 115. e. f. 123. b.), and are either twice their number or inde- 

 finite (f. 1 19. e. f. 123. 6.), usually disposed in many series ; fila- 

 ments distinct (f. 123. 6.), or connected into several parcels (f. 117. 

 e. e.\ curved inwards before flowering ; anthers ovate, 2-celled, 

 small, bursting lengthwise (f. 120. c.). Ovarium inferior, 2-4-5 

 or 6-celIed ; style simple (f. 119. c.). Stigma simple. Fruit either 

 dry (f. 119. d.~) or fleshy (f. 121. e.), dehiscent or indehiscent. 

 Seeds usually indefinite, variable in form. Embryo exalbumi- 

 nous, straight or curved, with its cotyledons and radicle distin- 

 guishable, or conferruminated into a solid mass. Trees or 

 shrubs. Leaves usually opposite (rarely alternate, as in Bar- 

 ringtonia,"), entire, full of transparent dots, feather-nerved, the 

 nerves usually running into each other towards the margin, and 

 forming a vein running parallel with the margin. Inflorescence 

 variable, sometimes on 1 -flowered axillary pedicels, sometimes 

 on axillary 3-flowered trichotomous cyrnose peduncles, or the 

 peduncles are furnished with many opposite flowers, and termi- 

 nated by one flower ; sometimes the flowers are sessile and spi- 

 cate ; always with 2 opposite bracteas under each flower. 

 Flowers white, red, occasionally yellow, but never blue. 



Myrtaceee is one of the most natural among the tribes of 

 lants, and the most easily recognised. Its opposite exstipu- 

 |ite clothed entire leaves, with a marginal vein, are a certain in- 

 Pdication of it, with the exception of a few plants, which probably 

 io not belong to the order, although at present placed in it. It 

 flosely allied to Jiosacea;, Lythrariece, Onagrarice, Combre- 

 and TSlelaslomacece, but cannot well be confounded with 

 any other tribe. It is distinguished from Lylhraricae 

 calyx being adnate to the ovarium, from Combretacece in 

 many-celled ovarium, in the erect or horizontal seeds, not 

 ndulous, and in the cotyledons not being convolute ; from 

 ]plastomdceee in the filaments not being bent abruptly, nor re- 

 ived in vacuities below the recesses of the calyx, as in that 

 ier, and in the form of the stamens ; from Onagrarice in the 

 amens being usually indefinite. The order offers a curious 

 kstance of the facility with which the calyx and corolla can take 

 on themselves the same functions of transformation. In Eu- 

 ilyptus, as is well known, the sepals are consolidated into a 

 bup-like lid, called the operculum. In Eudesmia, a nearly re- 

 Bated genus, the calyx remains in its normal state, while the 

 [petals are consolidated into the operculum. The pellucid dot- 

 tings of the leaves, and other parts, indicate the presence of a 

 fragrant aromatic or pungent volatile oil, which gives the prin- 

 cipal quality to the products of the order. To this are to be 

 attributed the grateful perfume of the Guava fruit, the powerful 

 scent of the flower-buds of Caryophyllus aromdticus, called in 

 England cloves, and the balsamic odour of the eastern fruits 

 called the Jamsorade and the Rose-apple. The fruit of various 

 Engenias are found by travellers in the forests of Brazil to bear 

 very agreeable fruit. A fruit of Brazil, called Japolicableras, 

 brought from the forests to the towns of St. Paul and Tejuco, 

 belongs to this order ; it is said to be delicious. (St. Hil. pi. 



VOL. II. 



usual, p. 29.) The young flower-buds of Calyptranthes aro- 

 mdtica have the flavour and quality of cloves, for which they 

 might be advantageously substituted, according to M. Auguste 

 St. Hilaire, pi. usual, no. 14. The volatile oil of cajeputi, or 

 cajeput oil, is distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca leucodendron 

 and M. cajeputi, and is well known as a powerful sudorific ; and 

 is a useful external application in chronic rheumatism. (Ains- 

 lie, 1. p. 260.). It is considered carminative, cephalic, and em- 

 menagogue, and is no doubt a highly diffusible stimulant, anti- 

 spasmodic and diaphoretic, and on that account is used in the cure 

 of cholera. It has also the power of dissolving caoutchouc. (Ibid.) 

 The root of Straradiitm racemosum has a slightly bitter, but not 

 unpleasant taste. It is considered by the Hindoo doctors valuable 

 on account of its aperient, deobstruent, and cooling properties ; 

 the bark is supposed to possess properties similar to Cinchona. 

 (Ibid. 2. p. 65.). A kind of gum is yielded by Eucalyptus re- 

 sinifera, which is occasionally sold in the medicine bazaars of 

 India. (Ibid. 1. p. 185.) Other species of Eucalyptus yield 

 a large quantity of tannin, which has been even extracted from 

 the trees of New Holland, and sent to the English market. The 

 leaves of Glaplnjria nitida, called by the Malays the tree of long 

 life, probably from the other trees of the forest having ceased 

 to exist, afford at Bencoolen a substitute for tea, and it is known 

 by the natives by the name of tea plant. (Lin. trans. 14. 

 p. 1*9.). 



Synopsis of the genera. 



TRIBE I. 



CHAM^ELAUCIE^. Lobes of calyx 5 (f. 115. 6.). Petals 5. Sta- 

 mens disposed in one series, fertile and sterile mixed (f. 115. e. c.). 

 Fruit dry, I -celled. Ovula numerous, erect from the base, fixed 

 to the centre or to the somewhat exserted central placenta. 

 Heath-like shrubs, all natives of New Holland. Leaves opposite, 

 dotted. Flowers small, on short pedicels. Bracteas 2 under each 

 flower, free or joined. 



1 CA'LYTHRIX. Calyx drawn out into a cylindrical tube (f. 

 115. a.); lobes ending in a long bristle each (f. 115. g.). Sta- 

 mens 10-30, free. Fruit dry, indehiscent, 1 -celled. 



2 DARWI'NIA. Tube of calyx drawn out into a membranous 

 deciduous limb, with its throat dilated. Lobes roundish, cor- 

 date. Stamens 10-15, free. Ovarium 1 -celled, 1-ovulate. 



3 VERTICO'RDIA. Flowers before expansion girded by 2 free 

 or concrete bracteas ; lobes of calyx palmately parted into 5-7- 

 lobules. Stamens 20, of which 10 are sterile and ligulate. 

 Stigma feathered. Fruit 1 -seeded, 1 -celled when mature. 



4 CHAMJELAU'CIUM. Flowers girded by 2 concrete bracteas, 

 which terminate each in a dorsal mucrone ; lobes of calyx un- 

 divided, petaloid. Stamens 20, 10 of which are sterile and 

 ligulate. Stigma capitate. Ovarium 1 -celled, 5-6-ovulate. 



5 GENETY'LLIS. Flowers girded by 2 distinct bracteas ; 

 lobes of calyx short, obtuse, entire. Stamens 20, many of which 

 are sterile, all filiform. Stigma bearded. Ovarium 1 -celled, 

 5-6-ovulate. 



6 PILEA'NTHUS. Flowers inclosed in a 1-leaved calyptriform 

 involucrum before expansion; limb of calyx 10-parted ; lobes 

 rounded. Stamens 20, all fertile, some simple, others bifur- 

 cate. Ovarium 1-celled, 5-7-ovulate. Stigma obtuse. 



5 L 



