Calycanthus. CALYCANTHACE^E. 191 



given to the rose-hip, pear, &c. Our genus will naturally be looked for among the perigynous, 

 not among the hypogynous orders. 



1. CALYCANTHUS, Linn. SWEET-SCENTED SHRUB. 



Sepals rmmerous, imbricated ; their bases united in many ranks into a persistent 

 obconical cupshaped tube; the outermost smaller and bract-like, the rest linear-oblong 

 and colored like the petals, deciduous. Petals in several rows on the mouth of the 

 tube, the inner ones shorter. Stamens numerous, inserted at and toward the top of 

 the tube, with very short persistent filaments, the outer (about 12) perfect, the inner 

 ones without anthers ; anthers apiculate, extrorse. Carpels usually numerous, distinct, 

 inserted upon the base and sides of the calyx-tube : styles terminal : ovules 1 or 2, 

 ascending. Akenes enclosed in the enlarged and at length dry ovoid or oblong 

 ealyx-tube. Seed erect, without albumen : cotyledons foliaceous, convolute : radicle 

 inferior. Shrubs ; leaves opposite, entire, without stipules ; flowers terminal, soli- 

 tary, purple or livid, more or less fragrant. 



A North American genus, of three species confined to the Atlantic States, and the following in 

 California. 



1. C. occidentalis, Hook. & Arn. An erect shrub, 6 to 12 feet high : leaves 

 dark-green, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, acute, rounded or somewhat cordate at base, 

 scabrous, 3 to 6 inches long, on very short petioles : peduncles 1 to 3 inches long : 

 the larger sepals and petals an inch long or more, linear-spatulate, purplish red be- 

 coming tawny at the tips ; inner petals incurved : anthers 2 lines long ; sterile fila- 

 ments linear-subulate, densely villous : fruiting calyx ovate, scarcely contracted at 

 the summit, 1^ inches long : akenes numerous, villous, oblong, 4 lines long. 

 Bot. Beechey, 340, t. 84 ; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4808 ; Baillon, Hist. PI. i. 292, fig. 

 312, 313. 



Rather common near streams, from the Lower Sacramento northward ; Plumas Co., Mrs. Ames. 

 The flowers and bruised leaves and wood have a fruity fragrance, but less pleasant than that of 

 the Atlantic species. It is said to sometimes have white flowers : blooming from April to November. 



ORDER MYRTACEJB, the Myrtle Family, a large order of trees and shrubs, 

 chiefly tropical and subtropical, with entire and punctate aromatic leaves, calyx- 

 tube adnate to the ovary, numerous stamens, and undivided style, has no American 

 representatives except near and below the tropic. But EUCALYPTUS, L'Her., a vast 

 genus of trees in Australia, forming there a large part of the forest growth, furnishes 

 several species which are advantageously planted on the California!! coast, from San 

 Francisco Bay southward. They make perhaps the most rapid growth of all shade 

 trees, and yet furnish excellent timber. In Australia some trees rival our Redwoods 

 in altitude and girth. The foliage of seedling trees consists of opposite leaves of the 

 ordinary kind, generally broad ; but when older they produce alternate leaves of 

 another shape, usually narrower, longer, falcate, and hanging in a vertical position, 

 which is assumed through a twist of the petiole. The calyx never opens ; but the 

 upper part, shaped like a candle-extinguisher or an inverted cup, separates trans- 

 versely and falls away as a lid, under this is commonly another lid, thin and decid- 

 uous, which answers to the concreted petals, and then the very numerous inflexed 

 stamens rise up and expand, producing a tassel-like blossom. The fruit is a 3-5- 

 celled capsule imbedded in the indurated calyx-tube, and opening at the top : the 

 seeds numerous and small. 



