THE POLYPETALOTJS ORDERS. 



415 



canthus exhales a camphoric odor ; and the flowers a fragrance 

 not unlike that of strawberries. 



780. Ofd, MyrtaceSB (the Myrtle Family). Trees or shrubs, with 

 opposite and simple entire leaves, which are punctate with pellucid 

 dots, and usually furnished with a vein running parallel with and 

 close to the margin ; without stipules. Calyx-tube adherent to the 

 compound ovary ; the limb four- or five-cleft, valvate in estivation. 

 Petals four or five, or sometimes wanting. Stamens indefinite, 

 usually with long filaments and small round (introrse) anthers. 

 Style one. Seeds usually numerous, destitute of albumen. 

 Ex. Myrtus, the Myrtle, is the most familiar representative of this 

 beautiful tropical and subtropical order ; which is well distinguished 

 from its allies by its opposite dotted leaves and aromatic proper- 

 ties. The species abound in a pungent and aromatic volatile oil, 

 and an astringent principle. Cloves are the dried flower-buds of 

 Caryophyllus aromaticus. Pimento (Allspice) is the dried fruit of 

 Eugenia Pimenta. Cajeput oil, a powerful sudorific, is distilled 



FIG. 690. Flowers of Calycanthus floridus. 691. Vertical section of a flower, showing the 

 hollow receptacle, &c. ; the floral envelopes cut away. 692. A stamen, seen from without. 

 693. A pistil. 694. Section of the ovary, showing the two ascending ovules. 695. The closed 

 pod-shaped receptacle in fruit. 696. A vertical section of an achenium, showing the embryo 

 of the seed. 697. Cross-section of an embryo, showing the finely convolute cotyledons. 



