232 XXXVII. MYKTACE^E. \Eucalypt 



The yarrah wood of Western Australia (E. rostrata, Schlechtendal, Benth. 

 1. c. 240) is a very strong and durable wood, but apt to crack and split unless 

 thoroughly seasoned. It is said to resist white ants and the Teredo navalis, and 

 has been imported to India for railway-sleepers. The Red Gum of Australia 

 is the produce of several species, especially of E. resinifera, Smith, Benth. 1. c. 

 245. It is nearly allied to Kino, is largely imported into Europe, and is used in 

 medicine (Pharm. Ind. 71). Several ethereal oils (Eucalyptus oil, Mali oil) are 

 distilled from the leaves of other species, and form an important article of ex- 

 port. Thus there are many reasons why the cultivation of those species of 

 Eucalyptus, which will thrive in India, deserves to be encouraged. 



2. PSIDIUM, Linn. 



Trees or shrubs, with opposite leaves; peduncles axillary, 1- or few- 

 flowered ; flowers large. Calyx-tube ovate, adnate at the base, the upper 

 free portion quite entire, closed in the bud, at length irregularly bursting 

 into lobes or coming off entire. Petals 4 or 5, free. Ovary 2- or more- 

 celled, with many ovules in each. Fruit a many-seeded berry. Seeds 

 with a hard testa ; embryo curved with a long radicle and short coty- 

 ledons. 



1. P. Guava, Kaddi; Grisebach West Ind. Fl. 241. Syn. P. pomi- 

 femm, Linn. Bot. Keg. t. 1079, with globose; P. pyriferum, Linn., with 

 obovate fruit. The Guava-tree. Vern. Amrut, amrud (the Persian name 

 for Pear), Safri-dm, North- West India ; Piydra, Beng. 



A small tree or large shrub, young branches pubescent. Leaves ob- 

 long or elliptic-oblong, 4-6 in. long, on very short petioles, pubescent be- 

 neath, nearly glabrous above, with 15-20 pairs of prominent main lateral 

 nerves, arcuate near the edge, and joined by prominent intramarginal 

 veins. Peduncles axillary, 1J-1 in. long, with 1-3 flowers. Free part of 

 calyx ovoid in bud, larger than the ovoid ovary, bursting into irregular 

 lobes. Petals J in. diam. or more. Fruit globose or obovoid, inside red 

 white or yellowish. 



Indigenous in Mexico, and possibly in other parts of tropical America, cul- 

 tivated and naturalised in most tropical countries. In India cultivated almost 

 everywhere, except in the north-western corner of the Panjab. Often run wild, 

 but there is no ground for supposing that the Guava is indigenous in India. 

 Wood compact, close-grained, takes a beautiful polish. 



Nearly related is the Myrtle, Myrtus communis, Linn. ; Boissier Fl. Orient, 

 ii. 736 Vern. Vildyati mehndi, murad indigenous in the Mediterranean 

 region, and often cultivated in India ; evergreen, wholly glabrous, with small 

 ovate acuminate leaves ; white flowers ; small black berries ; free part of calyx- 

 tube short, regularly 4-5 cleft. Leaves used in native medicine. 



3. EUGENIA, Linn. 



Evergreen trees or shrubs, with opposite, penniveined leaves; the 

 flowers tetramerous (Indian species), rarely pentamerous, in lateral or ter- 

 minal trichotomous cymes or panicles. Calyx-tube from globular to nar- 

 row- turbinate. Stamens numerous, in several series, free or obscurely 



